Aboitiz InfraCapital said it has expanded its water business with the inauguration of a desalination facility in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, as the Philippine infrastructure group moves to strengthen water supply in a fast-growing urban and industrial hub.

The MEZ2 desalination facility, located in Mactan Economic Zone 2, has a rated capacity of 5 million liters per day and treats brackish lagoon water into potable supply using reverse osmosis and advanced filtration systems, the company said.

The project adds desalination to Aboitiz InfraCapital Water’s portfolio, which now totals about 320 million liters per day.

The facility supplies water to 42 locators and about 12,000 employees in the estate, while also supporting Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which handled 12 million passengers in 2025, according to the company.

“As Lapu-Lapu City continues to rapidly develop, water security becomes even more critical,” Eduardo “Dudes” Aboitiz, vice president and head of water at Aboitiz InfraCapital, said in a statement. “We must be proactive in our approach and utilize all available water sources to deliver reliable and safe water supply to where it is needed.”

The plant began operating in June 2025, ahead of its formal inauguration on March 19, 2026. Aboitiz InfraCapital said the facility helped meet emergency water needs during Typhoon Tino and the 2025 Cebu earthquake, delivering more than 500,000 liters of potable water to Cebu province and surrounding areas.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Maria Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan welcomed the investment, saying it would help strengthen the city’s water resilience.

“We commend Aboitiz InfraCapital Water for this forward-thinking investment, transforming brackish water into potable water that now serves both the MEZ2 Estate and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport,” Chan said. “This is innovation that truly makes a difference.”

Aboitiz InfraCapital is the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, with investments spanning airports, water and wastewater, and digital infrastructure. Its water business includes bulk and industrial water assets across the Philippines.

Cebu Business News

Cebu-based logistics and transport operators are seeking to raise trucking and transport fees by as much as 30% as surging fuel prices squeeze margins, according to Leslie D. Lim, chief executive officer of LDL Group of Companies, which operates logistics and transport businesses.

Lim said transport firms were asking customers to allow an increase of around 30% in trucking charges at a time when average fuel prices were hovering at about P100 per liter. Based on prevailing trucking rates in Cebu of around P9,000 to P10,000 per trip, that would translate to an added P2,700 to P3,000, she said.

“We ask our customers to allow us to increase 30% on trucking, transport fees at the current P100/liter average fuel price,” Lim said, noting that rates could rise further if pump prices continue to climb.

Lim said the impact of higher fuel costs is disproportionately felt by transport operators compared to manufacturers, where fuel represents only a small portion of overall expenses.

“It doesn’t affect too much the manufacturing sector because fuel is a small percentage of their operation. But for us transport companies, fuel is vital,” she said.

Lim, who is also part of the Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council (CICAC), said a similar increase in transport charges had been implemented during Typhoon Odette, when Cebu experienced fuel shortages and widespread power outages.

The push for higher trucking fees comes as the Philippines faces renewed fuel price volatility driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have pushed global oil prices higher and triggered successive pump price increases in recent weeks.

The Department of Energy has warned of continued price swings, while lawmakers have moved to give the president authority to suspend fuel taxes to cushion the impact on consumers and businesses.

For logistics firms, Lim said, rising fuel prices are an immediate operational challenge that leaves little room but to pass on costs to customers in order to sustain operations.

Cebu Business News

University of Cebu (UC) has partnered with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to provide full scholarships and monthly allowances to 40 students from low-income families, as the state-owned lender expands its nationwide education support program.

The scholarships were awarded under DBP’s Integrated Scholastic Program for Inclusive and Responsive Education (INSPIRE), which was formally launched at UC’s main campus in Cebu City on Feb. 19, 2026.

The partnership makes UC the first private university to join the government bank’s scholarship initiative.

DBP allocated about P8 million for the initial batch at UC, drawn from a nationwide INSPIRE fund of around P510 million.

Another 40 scholars will be admitted next academic year and annually thereafter, forming five batches through 2029.

“For private school scholars, DBP covers both tuition and monthly allowance,” said DBP First Vice President Zandro Carlos P. Sison.

“What sets INSPIRE apart is that we continue to support scholars until they take their board examinations, if their course requires one. Each batch is supported for four to five years, depending on the degree program.”

The program currently covers selected four-year courses in engineering and real estate, with national priorities also including science, information technology, accountancy and maritime studies.

Scholars are required only to maintain passing grades to retain the benefits.

Sison said the initiative is designed to expand access to quality education without placing financial obligations on graduates.

“There is no payback requirement,” he said. “If, in the future, some of them choose to serve in DBP through internships or employment, that would be welcome, but it is not mandatory. We are investing in people, not binding them.”

The 40 beneficiaries were selected through a screening and evaluation process and come from families with annual net incomes of P150,000 or below.

Many attended the orientation and contract signing with their parents.

Dr. Leonilo Oliva, UC scholarship head, said the program could be life-changing for students whose ability to finish college often depends on financial support.

“DBP INSPIRE removes that barrier. We only ask our scholars to persevere and pass their subjects,” Oliva said. “With determination and discipline, they can complete their degrees and uplift not only themselves but their families as well.”

UC Chairman Augusto W. Go, meanwhile, urged DBP to consider expanding the program to include Bachelor of Science in Computer Science majors focused on artificial intelligence development.

“As we build engineers and real estate professionals, we must also build digital innovators,” Go said, noting that AI is reshaping industries globally. “This is where the future is headed.”

With 40 more scholars set to be admitted each year, UC said the partnership represents a long-term investment in human capital, aimed at improving access to higher education and strengthening the country’s future workforce.

Cebu Business News