CASIGURAN, Aurora — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Zone Authority (APECO) commenced the construction and rehabilitation of six key infrastructure projects in energy, road, and tourism worth PHP415.73 million.
As part of the Bagong APECO’s thrust of transformative governance, the Casiguran-based investment promotion agency (IPA) bolstered its annual budget through a thorough review of its programs and projects since 2007—finding savings to fund its infrastructure projects.
On August 12, APECO broke ground on the following projects:
- the PHP290-million Underground Power Distribution Line (UPDL) Phases 3 & 4;
- the PHP43-million 4-lane APECO Central Expressway;
- the PHP42.42-million Spine Road Phase 3 APECO Perimeter Road;
- the PHP10.28-million Esteves to Binaoan Gate Road Expansion;
- the PHP10-million Coastal Slope Protection with Road Construction Phases 1 & 2; and
- the PHP20-million rehabilitation of the JPEC Beachfront Villas, soon to be the New APECO Villas.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said these projects will serve as the backbone of the Casiguran-based economic zone, positioning APECO as an investment-ready ecozone for future investors.
These new projects are on top of the nearly PHP800-million abandoned projects, which are either completed and inaugurated or undergoing construction activities.
PCEO Taway highlighted the importance of responsible use of public funds to ensure transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in achieving its goals.
“These projects are more than concrete, steel, and cables. They are the physical proof of Bagong APECO, which is a vision of a modern, inclusive, and sustainable economic zone that works not only for locators but also serves the people of Aurora. We are laying the foundations so that when investors ask, ‘Is APECO ready?’—the answer will be a confident ‘Yes’,” PCEO Taway said.
For decades, Casiguran and APECO have struggled with the lack of reliable electricity, becoming a barrier for high-value industries. The new UPDL projects will not only stabilize supply but also prepare the ecozone to receive renewable energy projects from future APECO locators as well as committed power deliveries from energy companies in coordination with the Department of Energy.
The UPDL Phases 3 & 4 groundbreaking was graced by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda, who is one of the first national government agency officials who visited APECO’s headquarters in Casiguran.
“The groundbreaking of UPDL Phases 3 and 4 of this underground power distribution line is not just a construction project—it is the symbol of our unwavering dedication to support long-term progress in Casiguran, Aurora,” Administrator Almeda said.
He added that the UPDL project is a cornerstone in developing APECO into a storm-resilient and future-ready ecozone, “where the power system is both efficient and climate-adaptive”.
“This expansion of APECO’s electrical distribution system signals the growing momentum of investments and opportunities within this region,” the NEA chief emphasized.
Expanded and upgraded road networks will improve logistics efficiency, enabling the transport of raw materials, containerized goods, and even oversized cargoes. These upgrades are designed to position APECO as a future transshipment hub for the country, taking advantage of its strategic location of facing the Pacific Ocean.
Idle tourism assets are also being revived under the APECO Tourism Properties Unit. The renovation and upgrade of the New APECO Villas will transform a previously abandoned facility into a revenue-generating hospitality property. This project is a result of APECO’s commitment to its legacy locators who have agreed to realign their past investments with the zone’s new strategic directions.
“Bagong APECO is about growing together with the right investors, who believe not only in our vision for the ecozone but also in its role in the nation’s development. We are building the infrastructure now so growth can come faster and benefit everyone,” PCEO Taway added. (Manny D. Balbin)
