The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is urging ASEAN to expand its next generation of ports and industrial hubs along the Pacific coast, saying the shift would strengthen regional supply chains, improve trade connectivity, and reduce reliance on traditional maritime chokepoints.
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has secured investment pledges worth P18 billion in less than three years, underscoring growing investor interest in the eastern seaboard ecozone as the government pushes to diversify growth centers and strengthen national economic resilience.
Investment promotion agencies have welcomed the newly approved 2026 Strategic Investment Priorities Plan (SIPP), saying it positions the Philippines to compete for high-value investments in advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, clean energy, and other industries expected to drive future economic growth.
Aurora Province is set to become the Philippines’ “Gateway to the Pacific” after the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) joined forces with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines to accelerate key infrastructure projects.
Casiguran, Aurora may soon emerge as a strategic node in the Philippines’ pharmaceutical supply chain, as the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and the Philippine Pharmaceutical Procurement Inc. (PPPI) begin exploring plans for a dedicated pharma investment hub.
Globe led the National Telecommunications Commission’s latest service quality tests, recording the highest SMS success rate at 99.41 percent — the only provider to pass the NTC’s 99 percent standard. Its call drop ratio hit just 0.74 percent, well below the 2 percent limit, while peak download speed reached 381 Mbps.
Cash remains a major force in Philippine online shopping, with about 23 percent of all e-commerce transactions still paid through cash on delivery (COD), according to the Xendit Ecommerce Payments Momentum Report 2026. This figure is the highest in Southeast Asia—far above Vietnam’s 16 percent—even as COD shares drop sharply across much of the region.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) confirmed Metro Manila’s water supply remains enough for now, but called on the public to practice proper usage as the country braces for a strong El Niño event.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said tax collection in September reached P203.58 billion, an 11 percent increase from the P183.53 billion generated in the same month last year.