Ten long-abandoned infrastructure projects at the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), with a collective value of nearly P800 million, are now either completed or actively under construction, the agency announced Wednesday.
The projects, which include underground power lines, water systems, sanitation facilities and public buildings, had been left unfinished for more than 10 years.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during a visit to Aurora in July 2024, pledged to continue and complete APECO’s unfinished projects, which were inherited from previous administrations.
“We are transforming legacy problems into productive assets,” said APECO president and chief executive Gil Taway.
“This is our way of fulfilling President Marcos’ directive to finish what was started and unlock APECO’s full economic potential.”
Among the completed projects are the P60 million central water supply and reservoir (CWSR) Phase 1, the P28 million Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Phase 1, and the P12 million APECO Fire Station.
The underground power distribution line (UPDL) Phase 1 is 98 percent complete, while UPDL Phase 2 brings the total progress to 78 percent. Both phases are worth a combined P70 million.
The P30 million CWSR Phase 2 is 87 percent complete, and the P15 million fire trucks and ambulance procurement is about 50 percent complete.
Meanwhile, the P47 million STP Phase 2 is in the pre-construction stage.
APECO also revised plans for the unfinished corporate campus building, initially allocated P75 million, of which only P17 million remains. The structure is now integrated into the broader Corporate Campus Development program, which originally had a budget of P439 million but now retains just P103 million.
The remaining P120 million from both allocations will fund the construction of the ready-for-occupancy and ready-for-fit-out (RFO/RFFO) corporate campus building, the APECO convention center and the P67.6 million APECO grand lagoon.
APECO has also completed several previously stalled projects, including the P44 million rehabilitation of the APECO Villas and Residences, the P16.83 millionSuper Health Center and the P4.95 million materials recovery facility.
“We hope Congress will increase our current P262 million budget this year so we can deliver more high-impact, foundational infrastructure to attract future locators and investors,” Taway said.
