Daily Tribune
APECO and AuHarvest have teamed up to establish a TESDA-accredited training center in Casiguran, bringing industry-aligned skills development closer to the local workforce. This partnership strengthens APECO’s push for inclusive growth by preparing residents for future employment opportunities within the ecozone and beyond.
Jason De Asis
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and the AuHarvest Training and Assessment Center are set to establish a TESDA-accredited technical and vocational training hub inside the ecozone in Casiguran, Aurora.
According to APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV, the training center marks a significant step toward strengthening Casiguran’s local workforce.
Taway and AuHarvest President Raquel S. Patano signed the agreement on November 21, 2025, at the Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort in Angeles City, Pampanga. APECO Deputy Administrator Angelo Gabriel D. Mantuano and AuHarvest VP for Operations Chamilyn D. Cacdac witnessed the ceremony.
Under the agreement, AuHarvest will occupy a designated space within the APECO Corporate Campus, generating additional revenue for the ecozone while building a world-class training facility.
The initiative supports APECO’s broader goal of promoting inclusive economic growth through human capital development.
The upcoming training hub will offer Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-accredited programs aligned with industry needs, particularly those of existing and future APECO locators. The courses aim to equip graduates with nationally recognized certifications and job-ready skills to improve their employability within Aurora and beyond.
Taway said the partnership reflects APECO’s commitment to ensuring that development translates into meaningful local opportunities. “By partnering with AuHarvest, we are investing in Casiguran’s greatest resource—its people. We want them to be equipped with the right skills and certifications so that they can be part of the opportunities that our locators will soon bring,” he said.
AuHarvest Chairman Edgardo Manda, former general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, emphasized that the investment seeks to make technical education more accessible in remote communities. He said AuHarvest aims to build a pool of skilled, competent workers who can meet the demands of industries operating in and around APECO.
The partnership advances the national government’s thrust of enhancing regional competitiveness through workforce development, investment promotion, and inclusive education. By cultivating a strong pipeline of skilled workers, APECO continues positioning Casiguran as an investment-ready ecozone poised for economic growth.
