Insider Spotlight
A recent visit by the Public-Private Partnership Center put the spotlight on the collaboration among the government, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority and private operator Aboitiz InfraCapital as the Cebu gateway continues to modernize.
Why it matters
Implemented through a Build-Operate-Transfer arrangement, the partnership has expanded beyond infrastructure development to include passenger-focused services, sustainability initiatives and operational upgrades.
Recent improvements include CEB Connects, which allows minimum connection times of 35 minutes for domestic transfers and 60 minutes for international-to-domestic journeys, according to a company release. MCIA also introduced CEB Balik, which provides an OFW Lounge and facilitation center for overseas Filipino workers.
The investment
Aboitiz InfraCapital has invested P231 million in sustainability and passenger improvements. MCIA in 2024 became the country's first airport to deploy bridge-mounted equipment and electric ground support systems, helping reduce aircraft emissions and cut airline operating costs by 40 percent to 60 percent.
The improvements helped MCIA win Best Airport in Asia-Pacific in the 5-million-to-15-million-passenger category at the 2025 Airports Council International Airport Service Quality Awards.
"The success of Mactan-Cebu International Airport has always been rooted in partnership. Working closely with the Department of Transportation, CAAP, MCIAA, the PPP Center, and our other government partners allows us to continually improve the airport in ways that matter most to passengers," Aboitiz InfraCapital head of corporate affairs Christopher Camba said.
"Every enhancement—from operational upgrades to better passenger facilities—is part of a shared commitment to providing a safer, more efficient, and more welcoming gateway for the millions of travelers who pass through MCIA each year," according to Camba.
By the numbers
MCIA handled more than 6.4 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up 9.1 percent from the same period last year, reinforcing Cebu's role as a tourism, business and aviation hub.
"I am confident that the Mactan-Cebu International Airport demonstrates how a PPP project can deliver meaningful results when it is properly structured, effectively managed, and closely monitored," PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre said.
"The improvements introduced through the partnership have transformed MCIA into a world-class gateway that supports Cebu and neighboring tourist and business destinations, creating more opportunities for our fellow Filipinos in Central Visayas. Projects like this also strengthen investor confidence by demonstrating that PPP is a credible, transparent, and effective modality for delivering quality infrastructure and public services," Blanco-Latorre said.
The airport's continued modernization shows how sustained government-private sector collaboration can improve the passenger experience while supporting tourism, trade and economic growth across Central Visayas. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
