Aboitiz InfraCapital (Aboitiz), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group of Companies, plans to invest some P2.5 billion for its common towers initiative, bringing its 2021 total capital expenditures (capex) with its partners to P13 billion.
Aboitiz, in a statement on Friday, said its common towers budget will be spent on “passive digital infrastructure” which involves ramping up the deployment of mobile network operators’ (MNO) small cells into its pole network and construction of macro-towers.
An Aboitiz InfraCapital subsidiary recently secured its certificate of registration from the Department of Information Communications and Technology (DICT) as an Independent Tower Company “The subsidiary is now working on the rollout of its pilot towers with MNOs,” Aboitiz said.
The company said P6.5 billion, or bulk of its capex for 2021 has been earmarked for water projects, particularly the construction of Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc.’s (Apo Agua) bulk water supply project with the Davao City Water District.
“Once operational, Apo Agua can provide at least 300 million liters of treated water daily to over one million Davaoeños, making it one of the largest bulk water supply projects in the country,” Aboitiz said.
The firm said it has also set aside P2.8 billion for land acquisition and “redevelopment efforts” to further consolidate its existing assets and transform its industrial parks into “smart and fully integrated economic centers.”
The remaining P1.2 billion, it said, will fund other key projects in its pipeline. Its P13-billion capex, it said, is a 250% increase from the P3.7 billion it spent in 2020.
Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz said while Covid-19 has affected the company’s short-term plans, the company remains committed to its businesses.
“We are here for the long haul and we will continue to take bold and deliberate steps to achieve our growth objectives,” Aboitiz said.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. develops fully integrated economic centers, water, digital infrastructure, and transport and mobility projects that “advance business and communities.”
Among its current business units are the Lima Water Corporation in Batangas, the Aboitiz Integrated Economic Centers also in Batangas and Cebu, and the Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. in Davao.