The accolade was for Laguindingan International Airport’s digital hazard monitoring system, which enhances safety oversight.
Laguindingan International Airport (LIA), operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corporation, took home the Health and Safety Initiative of the Year - Philippines award at the Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2026 - Asia for its data-driven approach to airfield safety at LIA.
When ALAC took over operations in April 2025, it faced a lack of historical data on its previous operator’s safety performance. To mitigate this, the team developed a digital hazard monitoring system with QR codes and basic tools in Google Workspace and made sure that safety objectives were met and everything was monitored.
The initiative was called Zero-CAPEX Digital Hazard Ecosystem, a scheme that allows the airport to collect, analyse, and act on safety information without the need for investment in specialised enterprise software. Front-line staff can report hazards using their smartphones.
By focusing on early detection of risks and ongoing surveillance, the system assists in converting daily observations into actions that protect airport operations.
Safety proactive from the field
The digital system allows airport personnel an easy way to report hazards from operational areas such as airside staging zones and terminal breakrooms. The centralised Google Sheets dashboard pulls information from the operational logbooks, voluntary reports, and regular physical inspections. Employees are directed to reporting forms via QR codes.
Automated calculations standardise the safety indicators in terms of the flight movement volume, and provide an opportunity for management to better understand the dynamics of risks and changes over time. The airport also employs a number of leading indicators to detect potential problems before they become incidents.
Moreover, the system is designed to handle changing operational conditions. During civil works as part of infrastructure repairs, management set phase-adjusted safety targets and lowered the permissible rate of foreign object debris (FOD) in the manoeuvring area. This allowed the airport to fine-tune its monitoring system to operational needs.
The results demonstrate the advantages of combining digital reporting and physical intervention. During the reporting period, Laguindingan International Airport handled thousands of aircraft movements without any runway incursions, runway excursions, or aircraft ground damage incidents.
There was also a significant drop in FOD rates during the monitoring period, which was attributed to the implementation of physical sweeping and digital tracking. The improvement means the airport is more prepared to identify hazards and manage operational risks by having a standardised reporting process and taking tangible actions.
The initiative also provides a cost-effective way to obtain safety management and operational results, not just operational results. The enterprise software was not licensed by the airport, leaving more resources available for real airside safety needs.
The system’s feedback loop also improves accountability. Individual reporters get automated acknowledgement emails, and the wider airport community gets regular safety advisories.
The award spotlights the resource-efficient safety assurance approach of Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corporation implemented at Laguindingan International Airport. It emphasises how structured processes, accessible digital resources, and frontline engagement can enhance risk management and facilitate safe and reliable airport operations.
The Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards - Asia stands as the premier awards programme in the Asia Pacific region, dedicated to recognising the pinnacle of excellence within the travel industry. This prestigious event honours the very best in hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, travel agencies, booking platforms, and travel technology.
The Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2026 - Asia is presented by Travel Daily Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. For more information on the awards programme, you may contact Danica Avila at +65 3158 1386 or [email protected].
