The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has secured P177 million in government assistance to prepare a feasibility study for a proposed international seaport in Casiguran, a project envisioned to turn Aurora into a gateway for manufacturing, logistics and Pacific trade.
APECO President and CEO Gil G. Taway IV said the funding from the Public-Private Partnership Center would cover the full preparation of the feasibility study for the proposed fully containerized port on the country’s eastern seaboard.
The government support also sends a signal to prospective investors that the state is willing to share the cost of developing infrastructure needed to make the economic zone commercially viable, Taway said during APECO’s investment roadshow in Canada.
“Ito ay isang signal sa ating investors na ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas, ang APECO ay handa ring kahit papaano ay mag-chip in,” he said.
The proposed port is central to APECO’s broader plan to establish a transshipment, re-export and cargo consolidation hub, supported by investments in manufacturing, data centers and critical mineral processing.
Taway said shipping congestion and maritime chokepoints were prompting industry players to consider alternative gateways, potentially opening opportunities for APECO to attract port developers and shipping companies.
The location could also appeal to manufacturers serving Pacific markets, particularly customers in Northeast Asia, by offering a more direct shipping route and shorter delivery times.
“Distance is money,” Taway said, underscoring the potential cost advantage of locating production closer to target markets.
However, the P177-million assistance funds project preparation, not port construction. The feasibility study will help establish the project’s viability and provide a basis for attracting private-sector partners.
Meanwhile, APECO is developing supporting infrastructure, including underground power distribution lines and a central water reservoir system. Airport upgrades, a terminal building and a proposed convention center are also part of efforts to improve accessibility and provide services for future locators.
The challenge will be translating the port proposal into a bankable project capable of attracting the substantial private capital required for construction and operations.
