The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Zone Authority (APECO) has officially broken ground on six major infrastructure projects worth P415.73 million, marking a significant step in transforming the Casiguran-based ecozone into a fully investment-ready and climate-resilient hub.
The projects—covering power, road, and tourism development—are part of the Bagong APECO initiative, a strategic modernization and reform program aimed at revitalizing the economic zone’s role in regional and national development.
Led by APECO president and CEO Gil G. Taway IV, the projects include:
- P290M Underground Power Distribution Line (UPDL) Phases 3 & 4,
- P43M APECO Central Expressway,
- P42.42M Spine Road Phase 3 (Perimeter Road),
- P10.28M Esteves–Binaoan Gate Road Expansion,
- P10M Coastal Slope Protection & Road (Phases 1 & 2), and
- P20M Rehabilitation of JPEC Beachfront Villas (soon to relaunch as the New APECO Villas).
“These projects are the foundation of a modern, inclusive, and sustainable economic zone,” said Taway, describing the infrastructure as “the backbone” of APECO’s push to attract high-value investments in energy, logistics, and tourism.
The initiative is being funded through savings realized from a comprehensive review of legacy programs dating back to 2007. Taway emphasized APECO’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficient use of public funds.
A focal point of the development is the UPDL Phases 3 & 4, which address Casiguran’s long-standing power reliability issues and prepare the ecozone to integrate renewable energy sources. NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda, who attended the groundbreaking, called the project “a cornerstone for a storm-resilient, future-ready power system.”
Road upgrades are expected to boost logistics efficiency and support APECO’s strategic goal of becoming a Pacific-facing transshipment hub, while tourism investments—particularly the villa rehabilitation—aim to revitalize dormant assets and generate sustainable revenue.
The new projects complement nearly P800 million in previously abandoned infrastructure now being completed or reactivated.
With construction underway, APECO is actively positioning itself as a competitive and investor-ready economic zone, aligned with national priorities for inclusive growth and climate adaptation.
