BIZ BUZZ: Biz bigwigs come to town

It was an eventful Thursday in Taguig, where a posh hotel hosted the vaunted Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum—a first-of-its-kind gathering that packed some 600 local and international investors and business executives into a single hall.

Graced by President Marcos himself and top diplomats, government and business representatives from the 13 LEC partner countries, the event was bound to be a security headache.

And when the program finally began, awkwardness filled the room.

The President took the stage by himself in front of hundreds of business bigwigs.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton eventually joined him, followed sometime later—and after a few hurried steps—by Finance Secretary Frederick Go and Japan’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Ono Sho.

“We beg for your patience as we stand by for our esteemed guests,” the host had to say, as hundreds of executives were left standing and wondering who exactly everyone was waiting for.

“Wow, what a start to this program,” US Trade and Development Agency Deputy Director Thomas Hardy remarked in his opening speech.

But that opening hiccup, as it later became apparent, was the least of the organizers’ problems.

As all this was unfolding inside, a throng of protesters had gathered in front of the Taguig hotel.

Many held placards reading “Reject Pax Silica,” referring to the planned artificial intelligence hub in New Clark City that has drawn flak over concerns about its water and power requirements.

Five paralegals were arrested during the protest, according to rights groups.

Inside the posh hotel, however, the show went on, with hundreds of investors turning their attention to the billions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects being lined up across Luzon.

“We’re here to build,” Lipton said. “The United States is all in.” — Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta

One of the Philippines’ busiest gateways has been recognized as one of Asia-Pacific’s best, again.

For the second straight year, the Aboitiz-run Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) landed on Airports Council International’s (ACI) list of the region’s best airports serving 5 million to 15 million passengers annually.

MCIA, which served 11.6 million passengers in 2025, also climbed a notch to Level 3 of ACI’s Airport Customer Experience Accreditation, making it the first and only Philippine airport to reach that level.

Unlike awards decided by a panel of judges, ACI’s Airport Service Quality recognition is rooted in feedback from actual passengers, with surveys covering more than 50 touchpoints throughout the airport journey.

“The customer experience at MCIA sets the benchmark for service excellence across AIC Airports’ portfolio, ” said AIC Airports CEO Athanasios Titonis. “We remain focused on building an airport experience that reflects the best of Cebu and the Philippines.”Even with the wins, Aboitiz InfraCapital is not resting on its laurels. It vowed to invest further in MCIA’s infrastructure, technology, operations and passenger experience as it enters its third year at the helm of the Cebu gateway.

After all, with two major recognitions in hand, MCIA has more reason to keep aiming higher. — Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta

Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) is putting coastal restoration and livelihood support under one roof with Project Reshore in Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

The P1-million program will tap 30 small-scale fisherfolk and residents from vulnerable coastal households to help rehabilitate a 2.19-hectare (ha) damaged portion of the Bued Mangrove EcoPark.

The initiative combines cash for work support with environmental restoration, giving participating families an added source of income while helping rebuild a natural barrier against coastal hazards.

Project Reshore, or Resilient Ecosystem and Sustainable Habitats through Organized Restoration and Employment, is being implemented with the Alaminos city government under MPIF’s Gabay Kabuhayan pillar.

The damaged area represents 26.79 percent of the 8.17-ha ecopark and was affected by disturbances that include Typhoon Emong in 2025. —Emmanuel John B. Abris

For SM Investments Corp., knowing where to build is not just about finding the next growth market. It is also about knowing the risks beneath—and around—it.

The Sy family-led conglomerate has teamed up with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to integrate government hazard and risk data into planning for its properties and operations nationwide.

Under a memorandum of agreement, SM will tap GeoRiskPH, a government platform that consolidates information on natural hazards and related risks.

The group will use tools such as HazardHunterPH Pro, Geomapper PH, PlanSmart and GeoAnalyticsPH to assess hydrometeorological and geological hazards across its facilities, assets and operational sites.

The data will feed into decisions involving properties, business continuity plans and longer-term investments.

“Understanding the risks around our properties and operations helps us make better decisions about where and how we invest,” said Timothy Daniels, SM consultant and head of investor relations and sustainability.

The partnership comes as SM continues to expand across the country.

By incorporating scientific data into its planning, the conglomerate aims to better account for physical risks when making investment, asset management and business continuity decisions. — Emmanuel John B. Abris INQ