The newly refurbished property includes:
APECO Residences: a 20-room hotel
Executive Villas: seven two-bedroom villas
Executive Kubo: a three-bedroom nipa house overlooking Sierra Madre and Casiguran Cove
Why it matters
The P44-million rehabilitation project is projected to generate revenues that, at full occupancy, could fully cover APECO’s annual personnel services budget of P57 million within three to five years.
That would create a sustainable income stream to support operations, fund future projects, and contribute to national coffers.
APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said the initiative reflects the agency’s broader mission:
“The newly renovated tourism properties inside the ecozone will not only serve visitors but also create opportunities for our local communities and strengthen Aurora’s position as a rising destination in the Pacific corridor. This is APECO—where the Pacific meets Paradise.”
The big picture
The project aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push to revitalize tourism, which contributes over 8 percent to the Philippine economy.
During his Sept. 1 visit to Baler, Marcos emphasized the importance of tourism in driving growth, particularly for calamity-affected workers under the “Bukas na May Pag-asa Para sa Turismo” (BBMT) program.
Details
The rehabilitation includes three new control points, additional villas, and landscaping works. Green spaces, native plants, and walkways are being integrated to highlight Aurora’s natural beauty.
APECO’s airstrip can now accommodate chartered flights via one-time permits, with plans to secure a Permit to Operate (PTO) by year-end and eventually welcome commercial flights.
Early reservations are open via apeco.gov.ph/hotel-and-villas.
Between the lines
The reopening is expected to ripple benefits across Northern Aurora:
Local businesses: more visitors spending on food, goods, and transport
Communities: stronger partnerships between APECO and host towns
Tourism promotion: more visibility for natural attractions like Casapsapan Beach, Dialang Falls, Ontok Lighthouse, and the 419-year-old Ermita Church in Casiguran
What’s next
Last month, APECO began rehabilitating the JPEC Buildings into the APECO Legacy Villas, funded by P20 million in savings from its 2024 budget. The expansion will further boost accommodation capacity in the ecozone.
APECO envisions its tourism assets as part of a larger plan to position the DiCaDi corridor as a gateway destination where Aurora’s pristine environment fuels economic progress. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
