BALER, Aurora (PIA) — Aurora is positioning itself for stronger infrastructure development and increased investment activity after the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center signed a Memorandum of Agreement.
The collaboration supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s infrastructure agenda, which promotes public-private partnerships to speed up the delivery of major development projects in the country.
PPP Center Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre said that Aurora’s location along the Pacific seaboard gives the ecozone strong potential for logistics, trade, and emerging industries.
The agreement will help accelerate infrastructure development, attract investments, generate employment, improve public services, and stimulate economic activity in the municipality of Casiguran.
“At the same time, it sends a strong signal to the market that APECO projects will be developed under a credible, and transparent PPP framework. This will enhance investor confidence and encouraging private sector participation,” she said.
“A key outcome of this engagement is the institutional strengthening of APECO. Through capacity building, knowledge transfer, and hands-on engagement, APECO will be better positioned to independently develop, evaluate, and manage PPP projects over the long term,” the official furthered.
For his part, APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Gil Taway IV stated that public-private partnerships combine government direction with private sector efficiency to deliver projects faster and in a more sustainable manner.
Among the priority projects under the partnership is the proposed Casiguran International New Port, envisioned as a major logistics and maritime gateway along the country’s eastern seaboard.
APECO is also exploring the development of a pharmaceutical hub and a national defense hub to broaden economic activity and attract strategic industries to Aurora.
Taway said the partnership enables the government to tap private sector capital and expertise while ensuring projects remain aligned with public interest and national development goals.
“And with the guidance of the PPP Center, we are confident that APECO can pursue these opportunities responsibly, transparently, and strategically,” Taway added.
Through this partnership, the province will further advance its long-term development agenda by strengthening its role in regional growth and expanding opportunities for nearby communities.
