The revival of these projects marks a dramatic shift for APECO, which had been dogged by years of inactivity and failed promises.
Under president and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV, the agency is transforming from a symbol of stagnation into one of progress, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to complete legacy projects in the zone.
“We are transforming legacy problems into productive assets,” said Taway. “Bagong APECO means delivering results, not empty promises.”
Driving the news:
President Marcos pledged during his July 2024 Aurora visit to continue the economic zone’s unfinished initiatives. In response, APECO has delivered or activated the following projects:
Completed:
P60-million Central Water Supply & Reservoir (Phase 1)
P28-million Sewage Treatment Plant (Phase 1)
P12-million APECO Fire Station
P44-million rehabilitation of APECO Villas and Residences
P16.83-milion Super Health Center
P4.95-million Materials Recovery Facility
Ongoing:
Underground Power Distribution Line (P70 million total): Phase 1 is 98 percent done; overall completion at 78 percent
CWSR Phase 2 (P30 million): 87 percent complete
Fire trucks and ambulance acquisition (P15 million): 50 percent complete
STP Phase 2 (P47 million): Pre-construction phase
Zoom in:
APECO’s Corporate Campus Building, once partially completed with P75 million in funding (only P17 million remains), is now folded into the broader Corporate Campus Development Program—initially pegged at P439 million. The remaining P120 million combined budget will fund:
A ready-for-occupancy and ready-for-fit-out building
APECO Convention Center
P67.6-million APECO Grand Lagoon
The big picture:
These projects aim to create a more attractive and investment-ready environment in APECO. Foundational infrastructure—such as roads, utilities, and support services—is being prioritized to lure future locators and revive investor confidence.
What they’re saying:
Taway credited Congress for restoring confidence in APECO and appealed for greater budgetary support beyond the current P262 million for 2025.
“We’re hopeful Congress will increase our budget so we can deliver more high-impact projects,” he said. “We’re grateful for the trust given to us to usher in the age of Bagong APECO.” —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
