“APECO is still here, and more importantly, it is a New APECO.”

That was the crux of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) President Atty. Gil Taway’s State of APECO Address on Friday, 12 December 2025, in Aurora.

Taway outlined significant reforms, infrastructure accomplishments, and the agency’s renewed push toward a long-term industrialization strategy for Aurora Province held at APECO Administration Building, Corporate Campus, Casiguran town.

Taway identified the challenges that greeted the agency two years ago, including limited resources, organizational gaps, and the heavy burden of legacy issues.

The official cited that through collective effort, the agency restored credibility and regained the trust of national agencies, investors, local communities and the public.

Positive CoA findings

APECO’s improved performance was reaffirmed by positive findings from the Commission on Audit, which Taway cited as evidence of transparent and responsible stewardship of public funds.

Taway said that part of what he described as “transformative governance” was rebuilding relationships with stakeholders.

The agency institutionalized quarterly consultations with IP chieftains, opened an IP Desk and IP Lounge inside the ecozone, and facilitated the long-delayed processing of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), some of which date back to 2007. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples has approved the CADTs and is finalizing the release.