P415.73M in new APECO projects to drive Casiguran growth

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has begun the construction of six major infrastructure projects worth P415.73 million to jumpstart the growth of Aurora's economic zone.

In a groundbreaking ceremony on 12 August 2025, APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said, "This is not just a groundbreaking ceremony — this is a turning point,” noting that the projects are designed to strengthen APECO’s backbone in energy, transport, and tourism.

Taway led the event alongside National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda, local government officials, Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, stakeholders, and Aurora residents.

The six projects include the P290-million Underground Power Distribution Line (UPDL) Phases 3 & 4, the P43-million four-lane APECO Central Expressway, the P42.42-million Spine Road Phase 3 APECO Perimeter Road, the P10.28-million Esteves-to-Binaoan Gate Road Expansion, the P10-million Coastal Slope Protection with Road Construction (Phases 1 & 2), and the P20-million rehabilitation of the JPEC Beachfront Villas, soon to be rebranded as the New APECO Villas.

Taway said the energy projects will ensure a reliable, safe, and future-proof power supply for high-value industries, while road upgrades will improve logistics efficiency and connectivity within the ecozone.

"The coastal protection works will safeguard the shoreline and enhance climate resilience, and the revival of the APECO Villas will boost tourism revenues in Northern Aurora," he said.

"These projects are more than concrete, steel, and cables. They are the physical proof of Bagong APECO — a modern, inclusive, and sustainable economic zone that works not only for investors but for the people of Aurora," he added.

He called on other national government agencies to follow NEA’s lead by investing in APECO’s infrastructure needs, particularly in energy, road networks, and utilities.

Taway emphasized the need for better connectivity between Casiguran and the rest of Luzon to transform the ecozone into a gateway for trade and tourism. He cited economic data showing that provinces with stronger infrastructure, like those in Central Luzon, grow faster, while eastern provinces such as Aurora remain less developed due to weaker connectivity.

"We must invest now so these provinces can also become engines of progress, not just suppliers to the core," he said.