BALER, Aurora — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is exploring the establishment of a pharmaceutical investment hub in Casiguran town, to improve healthcare access and support innovation.
This move came after talks with the Philippine Pharmaceutical Procurement Inc. (PPPI) to define joint work on research, logistics, and distribution, supporting jobs and services for nearby communities.
APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Gil Taway underscored the ecozone’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,” Taway said.
The two government-owned firms outlined possible site activities, including research and development, clinical trials, cold chain logistics, and warehousing.
Ecozone Parcel 1, covering 496 hectares, was identified as a potential location for a pharmaceutical complex.
Taway said APECO’s ongoing improvements in power supply, water access, and logistics connectivity are key to meeting the requirements of pharmaceutical locators
Meanwhile, Philippine Pharmaceutical Procurement Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Blanca Kim Bernardo-Lokin said the agency is shaping a roadmap with the Department of Trade and Industry Supply Chain and Logistics Group to build a national network of similar hubs.
Aurora ecozone is among the areas under consideration due to its location and development potential.
She cited the country’s capacity in research, clinical trials, and logistics as key strengths for attracting global firms.
“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.
The initiative is seen to widen access to medicines, improve local health services, and create opportunities for high-value investments in the ecozone.
