Investment activity at the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is expected to gain momentum following a new order from the Bureau of Customs formally recognizing the ecozone as both an importing and exporting freeport, as well as an accrediting agency for the Customs Client Profile Registration System (CPRS).
Under Customs Memorandum Order No. 05-2026, signed on April 6 by Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, APECO was added to the roster of government bodies authorized to accredit importers and exporters for CPRS activation. The issuance amends a 2019 directive and elevates APECO to the same standing as other major economic zone regulators.
APECO president and chief executive officer Gil G. Taway IV said the development would “unlock pending investments and fast-track decision-making,” particularly among firms reliant on seamless import-export processes that had been awaiting formal recognition.
The CPRS is a mandatory registration platform for traders transacting with the Bureau of Customs. Prior to the order, APECO locators were required to coordinate with multiple agencies to secure accreditation—an added layer that often slowed project timelines and investment rollouts.
With the new authority, APECO can directly process CPRS registrations, significantly reducing administrative bottlenecks and simplifying customs compliance for investors within the zone.
Taway also credited the Department of Finance, led by Secretary Frederick D. Go, for supporting the policy shift, noting that stronger inter-agency coordination is critical to improving the country’s investment climate.
The recognition is expected to reinforce APECO’s positioning as a strategic “Gateway to the Pacific,” with a focus on attracting trade, logistics, and emerging industries targeting the broader Asia-Pacific market.
