23 September 2026 — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and Huge Energy Co., Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday in Quezon City to explore the development of a large-scale renewable energy project with high capacity substation, and battery energy storage system (BESS) inside the Casiguran-based ecozone.
The project targets an aggregate capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW) to be developed in three phases to energize the future industries in APECO, in a continuing push towards a stronger industrial policy.
The MOU signing was led by APECO President and CEO Usec. Gil G. Taway IV, Huge Energy Chairman and CEO Lai Hongze, and Dong-A Global Chairman and CEO Ik Soo Kwon.
Under the MOU, the first phase will focus on the development of a solar photovoltaic power generation facility, battery energy storage system (BESS), and substation, with an initial target capacity of approximately 100 megawatts.
For the second phase, Huge Energy eyes to add 350 MW of generation capacity through a mix of solar and waste-to-energy technologies, and an additional 550 MW for the third phase of its project.
“Power precedes progress. Before industries can operate, businesses can expand, and investments can come in, we need reliable and sustainable power,” APECO President and CEO Usec. Gil G. Taway IV said.
He added that the project aims to accelerate the development of critical energy infrastructure in APECO, including substations and potentially transmission facilities to contribute to energy security in fulfillment of its thrust. This will help improve the availability and affordability of power in the ecozone, the province of Aurora, and the country.
“The goal is to create a more competitive environment for investors, attract new industries and ultimately support APECO’s transition toward industrialization and manufacturing,” Usec. Taway said.
The partnership will also cover project planning and engineering, feasibility studies, permitting and government approvals, grid interconnection, power offtake arrangements, project financing, equipment procurement, engineering, procurement and construction, and eventual operations and maintenance. Each phase will be subjected to technical and financial feasibility studies, due diligence, grid requirements, and applicable government approvals.
Huge Energy Co., Ltd., a solar panel manufacturer, will be undertaking this project in APECO with South Korean energy, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm Dong-A Global Co., Ltd.
APECO is allocating 90 hectares of land for the said project.
MANILA — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) welcomed Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s call for the development of key defense facilities overlooking the country’s Pacific waters, saying the proposal underscores the growing importance of the eastern seaboard in the Philippines’ national security and long-term economic strategy.
This, as the defense chief made the statement during his department’s budget hearing emphasizing the need for infrastructure to support and sustain the country’s defense capabilities, including strategic installations positioned to oversee the eastern seaboard.
APECO President and CEO Usec. Gil G. Taway IV said the statement reinforces the need to view defense infrastructure not only as a security requirement but also as part of a national industrial policy that can build domestic capabilities, attract technology and investment, and create new economic activities in strategically located areas.
“Secretary Teodoro’s statement recognizes that areas facing the Pacific have a role to play in national security, but that role can also generate economic opportunities. Strategic infrastructure can support defense readiness while creating an ecosystem for manufacturing, maintenance, logistics, technology and other dual-use industries,” Usec. Taway said.
Located in Casiguran, Aurora, APECO sits on the eastern seaboard of Luzon with direct access to the Pacific Ocean, the Philippine Rise and the wider Indo-Pacific. Its 12,923-hectare area naturally sheltered by the San Ildefonoso Peninsula in the east and the Sierra Madre in the west, existing airstrip, and the planned Casiguran International New Port provide a potential platform for specialized industries that require space, maritime access and proximity to Pacific routes.
Taway said this makes defense and security-related activities a natural niche for APECO alongside other priority sectors such as logistics, energy, fisheries, digital infrastructure, and advanced industrial activities.
He added that APECO sees opportunities in the broader defense-industrial ecosystem, including maintenance, repair and overhaul, aerospace and unmanned systems, maritime logistics, warehousing, research and other technologies with both civilian and security applications.
“The development of such an ecosystem in APECO could also strengthen the Philippines’ role in Indo-Pacific stability while contributing to economic resilience,” Usec. Taway said.
“APECO hopes to be part of that national effort by developing a responsible industrial ecosystem in the Pacific seaboard that serves both the country’s security interests and its economic ambitions,” he added.
APECO, which sits at the convergence of Indo-Pacific trade and the national defense priorities, is well positioned to explore this niche within a broader industrial policy framework.
08 July 2026, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has urged port developers to build ASEAN’s next generation maritime facilities and industries in areas facing the Pacific Ocean.
In his speech at the 24th ASEAN Ports & Logistics in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Wednesday, APECO President and CEO Usec. Gil G. Taway IV said Pacific-facing ports and logistics hubs will serve as redundancy nodes for the region to ensure resiliency amid rising geopolitical uncertainties and growing pressure on existing maritime gateways.
Usec. Taway offered ports and logistics stakeholders in ASEAN to explore their next expansion in APECO by investing in the Casiguran International New Port (CINP) and bringing their operations in the Aurora-based ecozone, which has direct access to the Pacific.
“Global trade finds itself navigating one of the most complex geopolitical environments in recent history,” Usec. Taway said. “We already learned the hard lesson: when trade becomes too dependent on a few congested routes and a few established gateways, any disruption can quickly become a delay, a cost, or a lost opportunity.”
The APECO chief pointed out that it is logical to position ASEAN’s next generation ports facing the Pacific Ocean as the bloc’s top trading partners are economies that can be accessed through the Pacific.
Citing ASEAN’s data, the United States is the region’s largest export market in 2024 accounting for 16% of its total exports, followed by China (15%), Japan (8.5%), Hong Kong (6.2%), South Korea (5.7%). Taiwan, Australia, and Mexico are also the top destinations for ASEAN goods in 2024.
“Despite 7 out of the 10 top export markets of ASEAN being accessible through the Pacific, ASEAN's maritime infrastructure has naturally developed along its western maritime gateways such as ports along the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea the primary gateways for international commerce,” Usec. Taway said.
He also mentioned that the growing economy and trade from developing countries, including ASEAN member states, will put additional pressure on Southeast and East Asia’s major ports.
From 2019 to 2025, major ports in the region serving the Pacific route recorded double-digit growth, with throughput increasing from 11% to 59%.
Last year, Shanghai Port handled cargo volume of 55 million twenty-equivalent unit (TEUs), Singapore at 45 million TEUs; Ningbo-Zhoushan at 44 million TEUs, Busan at 25 million TEUs, and Malaysia’s Port Klang at 15 million TEUs cargo handling in 2025. These ports are among the 30 busiest ports in the world according to industry analyst Alphaliner. Individual throughput of these Asian ports even surpassed Europe’s largest ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp.
“Through our proposed Casiguran International New Port, a flagship infrastructure project of APECO, we offer ASEAN a new Pacific-facing platform for transshipment, logistics, consolidation, cold chain, value-added processing, and export-oriented manufacturing,” Usec. Taway said.
“It is not being proposed to replace Shanghai, Singapore, Port Klang, Busan, or any of the region’s established hubs. It is being positioned as a complementary Pacific-facing transshipment and logistics hub; a new option for businesses that need redundancy, route flexibility, and direct access to Pacific markets,” he added.
Moreover, APECO also positioned itself as ASEAN’s future gateway as the “Golden Waterway”, or the Arctic Route, being developed for a reconfigured Asia-Europe trade corridor.
“If this route becomes commercially viable at scale, vessels from Northern Europe could reach the Pacific through the Arctic, reducing dependence on traditional chokepoints such as the Suez Canal and reshaping the geography of Europe-Asia trade,” the APECO chief said.
06 JULY 2026 — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) will promote the Casiguran International New Port and other flagship projects at the 24th ASEAN Ports and Logistics 2026 Conference from July 8 to 9 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
APECO President and CEO Undersecretary Gil G. Taway IV will represent the agency on July 8 during the event’s CEO Forum, joining senior port, logistics and maritime industry leaders in ASEAN.
Usec. Taway will join the CEO Forum session on “Adapting to Current Uncertainties, Addressing Current Disruptions in Cargo Movements and Forecasting the Future of Global Trade Routes and its Implications for ASEAN Ports”.
The session provides APECO a strategic platform to present Casiguran as a future Pacific-facing gateway for cargo consolidation, storage, processing and redistribution, as shipping lines, logistics firms and port developers look for new routes and resilient trade nodes in the region.
The CEO Forum will feature Port Klang Authority General Manager YBhg. Dato’ Captain K. Subramaniam; MMC Port Holdings Berhad Group CEO YBhg. Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof; MTT Shipping and Logistics Bhd Managing Director Ooi Lean Hin; LuMIC Development Sdn Bhd Chief Business Development Officer Alex Staring; and PT Pelindo Sinergi Lokaseva President Director Joko Noerhudha. They are among 35 international conference speakers expected to discuss emerging trends shaping the future of ports, logistics and global trade.
The conference is expected to gather about 300 senior executives from leading shippers, cargo owners, importers and exporters, shipping lines, freight forwarders, logistics companies, ports and terminal operators, railway operators, and port equipment and service suppliers from ASEAN and connecting regions.
As part of its participation, APECO will also conduct port benchmarking activities at Port Klang, Malaysia’s primary maritime gateway and one of the world’s top 10 busiest container ports.
APECO will also conduct an investment mission in Malaysia from July 7 to 9 to offer opportunities in the economic zone, particularly in seaport and airport development, clean energy and other priority sectors. The agency will also explore potential partnerships in the halal industry, especially in food and beverage, tourism and related services, as it positions Aurora as a strategic investment destination connected to ASEAN and Pacific markets.
The signing of the 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is a strong affirmation of the development path that APECO has charted for the Aurora Province and the Eastern Seaboard. The newly approved priorities reinforce our vision of transforming APECO into the country's National Defense Hub, Fishing Capital of the Pacific, and Clean Energy Hub. These three strategic pillars directly support the Marcos administration's goals of strengthening national security, ensuring food security, and advancing energy security.
What makes the 2026 SIPP particularly significant for APECO is that many of the economic activities we are actively promoting are among the country's priority investment areas.
Under Tier I, these include agriculture, fishery and forestry development; processing and manufacturing of agricultural and fishery products; aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO); telecommunications infrastructure and services; ports and terminals; air, land and water transport; industrial zones; logistics and fulfillment centers; training and learning facilities; housing; as well as power generation and energy storage projects.
The alignment becomes even more evident under Tier II, which includes defense-related service activities, renewable energy, and food security-related investments. These sectors are central to APECO's strategic positioning. As the country seeks to enhance its defense capabilities, secure its food supply, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources, APECO offers a unique platform where these priorities can converge through strategic investments and public-private partnerships.
Likewise, the inclusion of science, technology, and innovation-related activities under Tier III strengthens APECO's long-term vision. Priority areas such as research and development, defense-related manufacturing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science, hydrogen energy, and nuclear energy are among the high-value industries that we aim to attract as we develop a future-ready economic zone. Together with export-oriented enterprises, these industries have the potential to generate quality employment, encourage technology transfer, and position Aurora as an emerging center for innovation and advanced industries.
The 2026 SIPP presents an opportunity to translate national policy into tangible local benefits. As investments flow into these priority sectors, our communities, including our Indigenous Peoples, stand to gain from new jobs, expanded livelihood opportunities, skills training, and greater participation in economic development.
By aligning APECO's strategic direction with the country's investment priorities, we are creating the conditions for inclusive growth while advancing the nation's broader goals of security, resiliency, and sustainability.
CASIGURAN, Aurora — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Thursday (May 21) to strengthen the development of PPP projects aimed at accelerating infrastructure growth and long-term economic transformation in Aurora Province.
APECO President and CEO Undersecretary Gil G. Taway IV said the partnership with PPP Center is expected to fast-track APECO’s flagship infrastructure initiatives, including the Casiguran International New Port (CINP) and the Casiguran International Airport that position the ecozone as the country’s emerging “Gateway to the Pacific”.
Usec. Taway signed the MOA on behalf of APECO while PPP Center Executive Director Undersecretary Rizza Blanco-Latorre represented the Center. Also present to witness the signing is APECO Administrative and Finance Manager Rexzon Balacano and PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Assistant Secretary Eleazar E. Ricote.
Aside from the seaport and airport, Usec. Taway said the partnership will help build a robust pipeline of PPP projects designed to attract private sector investments in infrastructure, industry, tourism, and related sectors.
Under the agreement, the PPP Center will provide technical assistance and advisory support to APECO in project development, structuring, evaluation, procurement, and implementation of PPP projects. This includes the preparation of feasibility studies, conduct of business cases for qualified projects, and assistance in evaluating unsolicited proposals in accordance with Republic Act No. 11966 or the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines.
PPP Center will also extend its assistance to APECO in determining eligibility for support under the Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF).
“The PPP Center’s technical expertise will be critical in ensuring that APECO’s priority projects are properly structured, bankable, and aligned with national development goals,” Usec. Taway said.
On the other hand, APECO is expected to provide access to relevant project documents and information to the PPP Center, subject to applicable laws
and internal safeguards; designate a dedicated PPP unit to coordinate and manage PPP project development and implementation; ensure coordination with the PPP Center’s assigned technical teams; and facilitate implementation of agreed project development activities and support requirements.
Meanwhile, Usec. Blanco-Latorre said the agreement reflects the government’s commitment to expand private sector participation in infrastructure development under the PPP Code.
“Ultimately, this collaboration is about creating bankable, inclusive, and future-ready infrastructure that will unlock economic opportunities not only for Aurora, but for the broader Luzon growth corridor” Blanco-Latorre said.
Meanwhile, the PPP Center concluded a workshop for APECO conducted on May 19-20, which aimed to strengthen its capabilities in undertaking PPP projects.
Among the outputs of the two-day workshop are the Project Concept Notes for the CINP, Casiguran airport, pharmaceutical hub, and national defense hub.
MANILA — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and the Philippine Pharmaceutical Procurement Inc. (PPPI) are exploring to establish a pharmaceutical investment hub in Casiguran, Aurora.
On April 24, APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Gil G. Taway IV and PPPI President and CEO Maria Blanca Kim Bernardo-Lokin had an initial meeting at APECO’s satellite office at Parqal, Aseana City, Parañaque City to discuss potential areas of collaboration between the two government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).
The proposed initiative supports the administration’s push under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen healthcare systems, improve access to affordable medicines, and position the Philippines as a competitive hub for high-value industries.
During the meeting, PPPI identified several potential activities for the proposed pharma hub in APECO, including research and development, clinical trials, and cold chain logistics and warehousing, among others.
PCEO Taway underscored APECO's readiness to host high-value industries that require reliable infrastructure, streamlined regulation, and long-term investment support.
“We are building APECO as a complete, investment-ready ecosystem. For industries like pharmaceuticals that demand stability, efficiency, and scale, our ecozone provides the environment where they can operate and grow with confidence,” PCEO Taway said.
Likewise, APECO has available land in Parcel 1 for a potential pharmaceutical hub, covering 496 hectares within the 12,923 hectares under its management pursuant to Republic Act 10083 of 2010.
He added that APECO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen power supply, water access, and logistics connectivity are critical in meeting the requirements of pharmaceutical locators, particularly in R&D, cold chain storage, and distribution.
For her part, PCEO Bernardo-Lokin said PPPI is currently drafting its roadmap in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry-Supply Chain and Logistics Group to develop a network of pharma hubs, wherein APECO is being eyed to be one of the potential pharma ecozones.
“We can position the Philippines as a competitive regional hub in Asia for global pharmaceutical firms, leveraging our strengths in R&D, clinical trials, and logistics. This collaboration with APECO not only strengthens our role in the global pharma value chain but also directly supports the administration’s priority of improving access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Filipinos,” Bernardo-Lokin added.
13 April 2026, MANILA – The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) expects locators to accelerate their investment decisions following a memorandum issued by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) recognizing the ecozone as an importing and exporting freeport zone and a Customs Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) accrediting agency.
The Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 05-2026, signed by Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno on April 6, 2026, amends provisions of CMO No. 19-2019 to include APECO among government agencies authorized to accredit importers and exporters for CPRS activation.
The same order formally lists APECO as a recognized free zone authority, aligning it with other major economic zone regulators in the country.
“This development is expected to unlock pending investments and fast-track decision-making among our prospective locators. Some investors have been waiting for this formal recognition before proceeding with their projects, particularly those with import-export requirements,” APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said.
The CPRS is a mandatory registration system for importers and exporters transacting with the BOC.
Previously, locators had to coordinate with multiple agencies to complete their accreditation, which could delay operational timelines.
The new policy authorized APECO to facilitate CPRS accreditation, enabling faster CPRS activation and smoother customs transactions.
“We thank Commissioner Nepomuceno, the BOC, and the Department of Finance led by Secretary Frederick D. Go for this important issuance, which enhances inter-agency coordination and directly supports investment promotion in APECO,” PCEO Taway said.
This development strengthens APECO’s position to become the country’s “Gateway to the Pacific”, a strategic hub for trade, logistics, and emerging industries serving the Asia-Pacific region.
MANILA — The Casiguran Airport, located inside the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), is being positioned as a future international gateway in the northeastern part of Luzon.
The airport is one of APECO’s key infrastructure projects to help the Aurora Province to transform as a strategic hub for tourism, trade, and investment.
“We will be bidding out the passenger terminal building and air traffic control tower this second quarter of the year,” APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said.
PCEO Taway added that positioning the Casiguran Airport as an international gateway will connect Aurora directly to the global markets. It will also make the province more attractive to investors, tourists, and as a competitive hub for emerging industries.
This major infrastructure in APECO also gained strong support from Aurora’s Lone District Representative Hon. Rommel Rico T. Angara.
Congressman Angara, in his special message during the APECO-InfiniVAN Memorandum of Understanding Signing event last March 27, said there will be commercial flights coming in and out of Aurora Province by June 2027.
“In Baler, we have a domestic airport. But in Casiguran, together with APECO and the Board of Directors, our vision is for the coming years—final timeline will be 2028—to have an international, operational airport in Aurora Pacific Economic Zone,” Rep. Angara said.
As momentum builds, APECO continues to lay the groundwork for a more connected and investment-ready Aurora, anchored on its vision of becoming a globally competitive and sustainable economic zone.
MANILA — Government leaders of the Aurora Province signed a pledge of support to the proposed digital infrastructure project between the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and InfiniVAN, Inc. on March 27, 2026 in Makati City, signaling unified backing from local and provincial officials for a landmark initiative poised to transform connectivity and investment prospects in the province. InfiniVAN is an affiliate of the Tokyo stock exchange-listed company IPS, Inc.
The signing of the Pledge of Support, held alongside the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between APECO and InfiniVAN, Inc., was led by the Aurora Lone District Representative Hon. Rommel Rico T. Angara, the Provincial Government of Aurora represented by Provincial Administrator Shierwin H. Taay on behalf of the Governor Hon. Isidro P. Galban, and the complete attendance of all eight mayors of Aurora.
The mayors in attendance were Baler Mayor Rhett Ronan T. Angara, Casiguran Mayor Roynald S. Soriano, Dinalungan Mayor Arvee A. Vargas, Dingalan Mayor Aurora Guzman-Taay, Dilasag Mayor Romner A. Agustin, Dipaculao Mayor Danilo A. Tolentino, Maria Aurora Mayor Ariel S. Bitong, and San Luis Mayor Ariel A. De Jesus.
The provincial and local chief executives signed the pledge affirming their collective commitment of fostering a supportive environment to ensure the success of the project for the inclusive growth of Aurora.
In his special message that bookmarked the pledge of support, Cong. Angara said that politics plays a major role in the economic growth of Aurora, and that political leaders must be united, working with national government agencies to make progress and take the necessary steps for the development of the province.
“For the previous elections, I've always envisioned leaders should always be One Aurora. When elected, we should work together for the progress of Aurora,” Cong. Angara said.
“We are one in ensuring that all should be done for the encouragement and progress, not only of APECO, but the whole province in general,” he added.
For his part, Provincial Administrator Taay highlighted the broader implications of the partnership between APECO and InfiniVAN for Aurora’s development:
“This act signifies the great possibilities for the Province of Aurora, to develop more of its potentials and its endless opportunities not just as a tourism hub only, but as an international avenue for digitalization and modernization,” Administrator Taay said.
Under the MOU, APECO and InfiniVAN will collaborate to explore the development of an overland link within the Casiguran-based ecozone, connecting it to InfiniVAN’s existing and upcoming international submarine cable landing stations in Baler, Aurora, as well as to subsea cable capacities in Claveria, Cagayan and other emerging landing corridors across Northern Luzon.
“On behalf of APECO, I extend our sincere gratitude to our leaders across Aurora for their full support and unity. Your commitment sends a strong signal that the province is ready to move forward together in unlocking new opportunities for our people,” said APECO President and CEO Gil G. Taway IV.
