(12 June 2025, Manila) - At least 12 infrastructure projects, valued at P4.71 billion, of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) have been listed among those given government priority, APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Gil Taway IV said on Wednesday.
Atty. Taway told this paper the 12 have been confirmed for inclusion in the government’s Updated Public Investment Program 2023-2026 and qualify for inclusion in the 2027 budget preparation.
Atty. Taway said he received confirmation in a letter dated April 16, 2025 from the former National Economic and Development Authority, now the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).
The list remains unchanged so far and forms part of the 32 validated programs and projects submitted by APECO to the DEPDev. Atty. Taway said these projects will help transform the zone into a fully functional, investor-ready ecosystem.
In a document shared with Malaya Business Insight, APECO said these include projects involving the airport and the development of renewable energy facilities to address the needs of existing and future locators.
“Infrastructure development for APECO is the backbone at which we continue to build the economic zone’s future. Our investments are strategically aligned to enhance multimodal logistics, ensure reliable power and water supply, and establish robust digital connectivity,” the document stated.
These enabling infrastructures reduce operating costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and create a seamless environment for industrial, commercial, and innovation-driven enterprises.
“By prioritizing these developments, we are positioning APECO as a future-ready hub for high-value investments,” Atty. Taway said.
The documents showed that the largest of these projects is in the energy sector, which aims to provide Freeport with a reliable and disaster-resilient power infrastructure.
These include the 69 kilovolt (kV) subtransmission Line from Brgy. Bianoan to Brgy. Culat, Casiguran, Aurora, valued at P1.536 billion. This represents Phase 5 of the Underground Power Distribution Lines (UPDL) in APECO.
Another power project is the 13.2kV distribution line from the proposed substation to So. Aguez, Brgy. Cozo and So. Dalungan, Brgy. San Ildefonso, Casiguran, Aurora worth P1.68 billion. This represents Phase 6 of the UPDL. Phase 7 of UPDL is the 13.2 kV distribution line from the proposed substation to Brgy. Casapsapan, Casiguran, Aurora. This project costs P443.54 million.
APECO has submitted three separate proposals for the development of the airport. These include the extension of the airport’s runway by 1.3 kilometers to be able to accommodate chartered flights; a three-storey air traffic control tower, P60 million; and a passenger terminal building and administration building, P30 million.
The other projects are the four-lane APECO Central Expressway, P222.7 million; plug-and-play ready for occupancy buildings for locators, P205 million; the 12 megawatt (MW) diesel power plant, P190.27 million; a cruise ship/ferry docking facility, P100 million; a 10 mega volt amperes substation for Parcel 2 of the Freeport, P88.64 million and the implementation of the San Ildefonso Ecotourism Master Plan, P41.24 million.
APECO said it has successfully advanced a series of critical projects that had been stalled or overlooked in previous years, citing the 2024 Audit Observation Memorandum issued by the Commission on Audit.
APECO said in a separate statement issued on June 3, 2025, these projects include the rehabilitation and reopening of the APECO administration building in Casiguran, the completion of support infrastructure namely the central water supply and reservoir phase 1; sewage treatment plant phase 1; fire station and fire fighting equipment, tourism projects, among others.
The original news article was first featured on Malaya Business Insight by Irma Isip. To view the article, please click here.
