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Aboitiz, Vietnam Discuss Stronger Cooperation in Energy, Food Security and Infrastructure

by Contributor
written by Contributor

Since 2014, Vietnam has been a key growth market for Aboitiz Foods through Pilmico’s acquisition of Vinh Hoan 1 Feed JSC. Most recently, the company further strengthened its presence with a US$45-million feed mill in Long An Province that can produce up to 300,000 metric tons of livestock and animal nutrition feed annually—underscoring the company’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s food security and agricultural growth.

The Aboitiz Group met with Vietnamese President To Lam during his state visit to the Philippines, underscoring the strong alignment between Vietnam’s development priorities and the Group’s investments in energy, food security, and infrastructure.

The discussions focused on opportunities to support Vietnam’s continued economic expansion and strengthen regional competitiveness, particularly in sectors where Aboitiz has established capabilities and a growing presence. President Lam also expressed support for deeper engagement between Vietnamese and Philippine businesses as both countries pursue shared development goals.

Aboitiz Group officials led by (L-R) AboitizPower Chief Corporate Services Officer Carlos Aboitiz (1st), AboitizPower Chief Financial Officer Sandro Aboitiz (2nd), Aboitiz Foods President and CEO Tristan Aboitiz (3rd), Aboitiz InfraCapital President and CEO Cosette Canilao (5th), and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Chief Corporate External Affairs Officer DJ Sta. Ana (6th) met with Vietnamese President To Lam (4th) on the first day of his state visit to the Philippines.

The meeting highlighted the increasingly important role of regional collaboration in strengthening economic resilience, improving supply chains, supporting growing populations, and expanding opportunities for trade, investment, and tourism between the Philippines and Vietnam.

“We believe the economic relationship between Vietnam and the Philippines has significant untapped potential, particularly in agriculture, food security, and sustainable development,” said Aboitiz Foods President and Chief Executive Officer Tristan Aboitiz. “We remain committed to supporting long-term cooperation, investment, and shared growth between our two countries.”

Aboitiz’s investments in Vietnam reflect its commitment to sectors that are central to the country’s long-term development agenda.

Through Aboitiz Foods, the Group operates a US$45-million feed mill in Long An Province, equipped with modern facilities capable of producing 300,000 metric tons of animal nutrition feed annually.

In the energy sector, AboitizPower made its first major international investment through the acquisition of a 25 percent stake in Van Phong Power Company Limited, which owns an operational 1,320 megawatt high-efficiency, low-emission coal-fired power plant in Khánh Hòa Province. It is currently undergoing the mandatory process of securing government approval.

The award-winning Mactan-Cebu International Airport forms part of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s growing airport portfolio, joining Bohol-Panglao and Laguindingan International Airports.

“We are keen to continue investing in Vietnam’s power sector. This will span both more coal power investments, gas, and especially renewable energy as your country continues to require more energy generation given the demand for growth,” said AboitizPower Chief Financial Officer Sandro Aboitiz.

Beyond energy and food security, Aboitiz InfraCapital is helping strengthen connectivity between the Philippines and Vietnam by expanding direct air links between Cebu and key Vietnamese cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

“We hope to deepen partnerships with Vietnamese travel and tour enterprises so that we can bring more Vietnamese travelers into Cebu, Bohol, and Northern Mindanao and likewise more Filipino travelers into Vietnam,” said Aboitiz InfraCapital President and CEO Cosette Canilao.

Through its investments in strategic industries, Aboitiz is advancing opportunities for sustainable growth and shared prosperity in the Philippines and beyond.

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Business

KOICA, CAMP Asia pour in $1.5-M to boost income of Davao farmers 

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE KOREAN non-government organization, Center for Asian Mission for the Poor (CAMP) Asia, partnered with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to launch Phase 2 of the project that will boost the income of small-scale farmers from Davao City.

Titled “Income Enhancement of Farmers through Strengthening a Sustainable Agricultural Environment in Mindanao,” KOICA launched the project in 2023 with a total funding of approximately USD 740,000, supporting durian farmers in Tugbok and Calinan Districts of Davao City. 

Roni Buenaventura, project director, said that the success of the first phase triggered the second stage, launched on Wednesday, May 6, in time for the observance of Farmers Month. 

The project has led to the establishment of the Davao Mt. Apo Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (DAMAFACO), where beneficiaries now have access to facilities, including a consolidation center with cold storage, a transport vehicle, and marketing support for frozen durian products.

“DAMAFACO is the first cooperative for durian in Davao city, and they are into eco-friendly farming ngayon, and ang goal nila is mag produce ng organically grown na durian,” Buenaventura told TIMES.

Farmers were also trained in eco-friendly farming skills, pest and disease management, infrastructure support, and other capacity-building activities such as recording of production.

For the second phase of the project, KOICA has doubled its allocation to USD 1.5 million to scale organic production.

Buenaventura said phase 2 seeks to expand the cooperative’s footprint to over 300 farmers, covering at least 300 hectares across seven barangays.

Phase 1 covered 74 members and 100 hectares, focused exclusively on organic durian farming, distributed from barangays Wangan, Sirib, Tamayong, and Manuel Guianga.

While yield volume remained stable during the transition to organic farming, she noted a significant rise in farmer profitability due to reduced reliance on expensive chemical inputs.

“The yield didn’t necessarily increase dramatically yet because we were still in Phase 1, but what we saw in our survey was that the income increased,” she explained, noting the production costs of farmers went down.

Buenaventura said the farmers adopted their recommendation to move away from chemical fertilizers and instead apply organic fertilizer plus limestone.

The cooperative is also enforcing strict quality control by prioritizing local varieties like Puyat and D101 over foreign cultivars that have failed to adapt to the local climate. 

Buenaventura said these efforts are part of a long-term strategy to meet the rigorous standards of international trade, which is targeting the South Korean market. At present, the market for the produced durian is limited in Davao City.

Beyond durian, the cooperative plans to diversify to include cacao, banana, coffee, and coconut, expanding its operations into the barangays of Kawayan and Subasta of Calinan district and Tagakpan of Tugbok.

Photo: KOICA

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Community

InLife extends Guaranteed Issue Offer for three products

by Contributor
written by Contributor

InLife is extending a Guaranteed Issue Offer (GIO) for three of its products, making protection accessible, simple and fast.

GIO means that insurance applications, regardless of health and lifestyle conditions, will be approved. The GIO campaign for Resilience runs until January 31, 2026, while those for Abundance and Wealth Assure Plus (WAP) will be on GIO until December 31, 2026.

GIO will be available for face amounts of up to 1 Million pesos for Resilience, and P2 Million for WAP. For Abundance, the GIO of up to 2 Million will be the basis of future payouts and will be double in case of death while the policy is in force. This was announced by Chief Product and Innovation Officer Jose Eduardo O. Ang during InLife’s recently held Sales Kick-Off at the Ayala One in Makati City.

Aside from this, InLife has simplified and streamlined the insurance application, and ensured faster application approval, making protection more immediate.

“Many Filipinos hesitate to secure financial protection because of three common concerns: they fear rejection because of health and lifestyle concerns; they don’t feel the need for protection because they are still young and healthy, and they feel there are too many steps to accomplish before one can get a life insurance plan. Through the GIO campaign and both our system and process enhancements, InLife addresses these concerns giving Filipinos confidence to apply for life and health insurance coverage,” said Ang.

Resilience is a critical illness plan that gives cash payouts and additional health benefits to help one cope with the financial impact of being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Abundance is an endowment plan that offers long-term protection, guaranteed payouts, and a lump sum benefit, while WAP is a life insurance plan with regular payments that help grow wealth over time. With the GIO campaign, Filipinos aged 61 to 70 years old, may now avail of WAP up to a face amount of P2 Million, with death benefit equal to five times the annual premium, provided they have no rated, postponed, or declined insurance application with InLife for the last three years.

“Through these offerings, InLife is saying, Kami ang bahala sa inyo. This is our enduring promise to help Filipinos safeguard the future of their loved ones, grow their finances, and protect their health at every stage of life. We feel this is a great way to start the new year: with a renewed commitment to secure their future,” said InLife Chief Marketing Officer Gae L. Martinez.

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InLife@Work highlights retirement readiness during PMAP Annual Conference

by Contributor
written by Contributor

First and largest Filipino life insurer InLife highlighted the importance of building a financially secure Filipino workforce as it served as a principal sponsor and key participant at the 2025 People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Annual Conference, held at the Nustar Resort and Casino, Cebu City.

Through its flagship corporate program InLife@Work, InLife led the conversation on retirement preparedness and financial wellness during a featured session titled “Unleashing Financial Freedom: A Roadmap to a Secure Filipino Workforce.” The session unveiled data from its 2024 Retirement Study, the largest of its kind conducted in the country.

The study revealed that less than 30% feel confident about their financial preparedness for retirement and just half are actively taking steps to prepare. These findings point to a growing challenge for HR leaders: financial anxiety is now a workforce performance issue.

“Presenteeism, turnover, and disengagement are often rooted in financial stress,” said InLife Chief Risk Officer and Head of InLife@Work Efren Caringal Jr., who delivered the interactive session. “We launched InLife@Work to help companies embed financial care into their employee value proposition. We equip companies with the tools, data, and support they need to empower their people with confidence, clarity, and real financial solutions.”

InLife@Work also hosted an interactive booth experience featuring its new FinWell Ladder, a self-assessment and coaching framework, along with gamified engagement tools to spark conversation around retirement planning.

InLife@Work is the workplace and group engagement platform of InLife, dedicated to helping Filipino workers and their families achieve financial security and wellness through their employers, associations, or organizations. It brings together financial wellness education through its FinWell programs, insurance solutions tailored to personal needs, and strategic partnerships to scale impact.

InLife Chief Risk Officer and Head of InLife@Work Efren Caringal, Jr.

The 62nd PMAP Annual Conference gathered more than a thousand of the nation’s leading people managers, HR professionals, and business leaders for three days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.  During the conference, PMAP Trustee Jerry Bonifacio underscored the importance of financial wellness as an organizational strategy. “A workforce that is financially secure is more focused, more loyal, and more empowered to perform at their best.”

To know more about InLife’s Retirement white paper, please visit https://bit.ly/RetireWithoutWorries.  You may also try InLife’s Retirement Readiness Index Calculator at www.inlife.com.ph/retire-assure/retirement-readiness-index. To see how you can prepare for life after retirement, visit InLife Retire Assure at www.inlife.com.ph/retire-assure. Interested parties may also email inlifeatwork@insular.com.ph or visit www.linkedin.com/company/inlife-work/.

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Business

Aboitiz InfraCapital bets big on Mindanao growth prospects

by Contributor
written by Contributor

Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, recently underscored its long-term commitment to Mindanao’s progress at two landmark events, the Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICON) 2025 and the Mindanao PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Facilitation Initiative launch, both held in Davao City last September 2025.

During these events, AIC executives from AIC’s Water and Transport & Mobility sectors emphasized Mindanao’s critical role in driving inclusive growth through connectivity, innovation, and public-private collaboration, and as an enabler of tourism and economic activities.

Speaking to about 350 Davao ICON delegates, AIC Airports Head of Strategy and Communications Christine Villanueva remarked that connectivity remains the backbone of regional and national growth — and airports play a central role in that ecosystem.

“Connectivity builds economies. From trade routes to transport hubs, when we move better, we grow faster. Airports are not just travel terminals — they are engines of economic activity. Developing world-class regional airports will be key to unlocking Mindanao’s potential,” Villanueva said during the panel entitled during the panel discussion entitled “Building Gateways for Mindanao’s Progress: Developing World-Class Airports.”

AIC, through Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corporation, currently operates Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) in Misamis Oriental. AIC is currently undertaking the development and modernization of LIA over the short- to medium-term beginning April 2025, following the awarding of a 30-year concession agreement last October 2024.

This includes plans to incorporate necessary infrastructure, such as terminal expansion to cater to additional international connections and growing passenger traffic.

Villanueva noted that 2025 marks a pivotal year in AIC Airports’ transformation into a leading multi-airport operator in the Philippines, with its portfolio — which includes LIA, the award-winning Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), and Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) — collectively accounting for over 20% of the country’s passenger traffic.

Highlighting LIA’s strategic role, she said that AIC envisions it to become a regional gateway similar to MCIA, serving as a platform for commerce, tourism, and innovation in Mindanao.

LIA–already the country’s sixth-busiest gateway and Mindanao’s second-busiest after Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport–now caters to about 337 flights per week to some of the country’s most attractive destinations, namely Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.

During the Davao ICON, Ronnie Lim, General Manager of AIC water subsidiary Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., was also a featured panelist. Lim showcased the development and impact of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), a joint partnership with the Davao City Water District (DCWD).

As the country’s largest bulk water supply project, the DCBWSP has transformed Davao City’s water sector as it reliably delivers 300 million liters per day of sustainable water. Through the Apo Agua-DCWD partnership, over one million Dabawenyos now enjoy 24/7 access to potable water, improving quality of life, public health, and community well-being.

“Beyond households, this supports livelihoods, enables businesses to expand, and gives investors the confidence that utilities here can keep pace with growth. Davao’s promise of growth rests on one foundation: water that is reliable, sustainable, and future-ready- so our communities thrive and our city grows beyond borders,” Lim said.

Lim noted that thanks to Apo Agua, the DCBWSP has generated over P15 billion in investments, thousands of jobs, and significant contributions to Davao’s economy. New households, subdivisions, and businesses are able to operate and thrive without the constant worry of water interruptions and water quality issues.

Both DCWD and Apo Agua continue to invest in further improving the DCBWSP’s infrastructure and operational capabilities to ensure water security for Davao City.

PPP as a Platform for Progress

Meanwhile, AIC First Vice President for Investments Frocks Roque emphasized the importance of PPPs in ensuring sustainable, efficient infrastructure development at the launch of the Mindanao PPP Facilitation Initiative, organized by the Mindanao Development Authority.

“The delivery of quality service must be the primary motivation for the development and operation of PPPs. That means having clear, output-specific key performance indicators and linking financial benefits directly to performance. Strong public-private collaboration is essential to create an enabling environment for these partnerships to thrive,” Roque said.

Roque emphasized that PPPs work best when both the public and private sectors align their goals toward shared impact — combining private sector efficiency and innovation with public sector vision and inclusivity.

At present, the DCBWSP serves as a clear model of a successful PPP that has brought together the strengths of the public and private sectors to enable businesses and uplift communities.

In 2024, the DCBSP was honored as the Best PPP in the Philippines by the UK-based International Finance Awards – a prime example of the transformative potential of PPPs in driving sustainable urban development.

This recognition, coming within the first year of the project’s commercial operations, underscores Davao City’s commitment to innovative solutions for critical infrastructure needs and delivery of basic services.

Strengthening AIC’s Footprint in Mindanao

AIC’s growing presence in Mindanao reflects its confidence in the region’s economic momentum. Beyond airports and water, AIC continues to explore opportunities across other key infrastructure segments – all geared toward making Mindanao more competitive and connected.

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