The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) said it is bringing nearly PHP800 million worth of long-abandoned infrastructure projects back to life, signaling a strong commitment under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to make APECO genuinely ready for investors.
In a press release Wednesday, APECO confirmed that at least 10 major projects have either been completed, inaugurated, or are now actively under construction.
APECO president and chief executive officer lawyer Gil Taway IV credited this revival to robust internal reforms and a clear directive from Malacañang: finish what was started.
“This isn’t just about fixing buildings or finishing construction; it’s about transforming past failures into tangible progress,” Taway said. “This is the ‘Bagong APECO’ in action —driven by results, anchored in accountability, and focused on unlocking the zone’s full economic potential for Aurora.”
The rehabilitation includes crucial 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, with Phase 1 already 98 percent complete.
Further strategic projects, like STP Phase 2 (PHP47 million), are in pre-construction, while others, including the procurement of fire trucks and ambulances and the second phase of the water supply system, are in advanced stages of development, Taway said.
APECO said it is also re-envisioning its long-idle Corporate Campus Building. With just PHP17 million remaining from its original PHP75 million allocation, it has been integrated into a larger Corporate Campus Development Program. This broader initiative includes the planned APECO Convention Center and the PHP67.6-million Grand Lagoon, now operating under a revised PHP120-million budget.
Support facilities have also seen significant rehabilitation, with PHP44 million 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. (PNA)