CASIGURAN, Aurora — Nearly PHP800 million worth of once-abandoned infrastructure projects within the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) are now back on track, signaling a renewed push to make the zone investment-ready under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In a report released Wednesday, APECO confirmed that at least ten legacy projects—long stalled due to neglect and mismanagement—have been either completed, inaugurated, or are currently under construction. The agency’s leadership, under President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV, credited the turnaround to strong institutional reforms and a clear mandate from Malacañang: complete what was started.
“This isn’t just about fixing buildings or finishing construction. We are transforming legacy failures into tangible progress,” Taway said. “This is Bagong APECO in action—results-driven, grounded in accountability, and focused on unlocking the zone’s full economic potential.”
The rehabilitation includes vital utility infrastructure such as the PHP60-million Central Water Supply and Reservoir (Phase 1), the PHP28-million Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Phase 1, and the PHP12-million APECO Fire Station. Also nearing completion is the PHP70-million Underground Power Distribution Line (UPDL) project—Phase 1 of which is already 98% complete.
Strategic projects such as the STP Phase 2 (PHP47 million) are in pre-construction, while others, like the procurement of fire trucks and an ambulance, as well as the second phase of the water supply system, are in advanced stages of development.
Beyond these, APECO is reimagining its long-idle Corporate Campus Building. With only PHP17 million left from the original PHP75 million allocation, it has been folded into a larger Corporate Campus Development Program, alongside the planned APECO Convention Center and the PHP67.6-million Grand Lagoon. The program now operates under a revised PHP120-million budget.
APECO’s revived development has also included the rehabilitation of support facilities: PHP44 million was spent on refurbishing the Villas and Residences, PHP16.83 million for a Super Health Center, and nearly PHP5 million for a Materials Recovery Facility.
Taway expressed optimism that Congress will increase APECO’s current PHP262-million allocation for 2025. “We need to build foundational infrastructure—roads, utilities, and service hubs—so that when investors come knocking, we are ready,” he said.
Despite the zone’s tainted legacy, Taway said renewed legislative support has been instrumental in reviving the zone’s reputation. “The trust that Congress has placed in APECO speaks volumes. It’s a second chance—and we won’t waste it.”
APECO’s reinvigorated momentum marks a rare instance of a government economic zone making good on long-stalled commitments, aiming to finally deliver on its potential as a catalyst for inclusive growth in Aurora and beyond. — Jason de Asis