Ang Pahayagan

CASIGURAN, Aurora — The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) announced that it will reopen its accommodation facilities in Casiguran this October, a move seen as part of the agency’s ongoing transformation and support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push to revitalize the tourism sector.

The newly rehabilitated facilities include the 20-room APECO Residences, seven two-bedroom APECO Executive Villas, and a three-bedroom APECO Executive Kubo, all offering views of the Sierra Madre mountain range and Casiguran Cove.

APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said the PHP44-million rehabilitation project, funded by the agency’s 2024 budget, also covers the construction of three control points and two additional villas within the ecozone. He emphasized that the facilities will not only serve as a destination for visitors but also provide livelihood opportunities for local communities.

“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,” Taway said.

The agency projects that with full occupancy, the facilities could generate enough income within three to five years to cover its PHP57-million annual personnel service budget, providing a sustainable revenue stream for APECO’s operations and projects while contributing to national coffers.

The reopening aligns with President Marcos Jr.’s tourism agenda. During his September 1 visit to Baler, the President distributed financial and training assistance to over 1,000 typhoon-affected tourism workers under the Bukas na May Pag-asa Para sa Turismo (BBMT) program. Marcos underscored the tourism industry’s role in the Philippine economy, contributing over 8 percent to the national GDP.

As part of its upgrades, APECO has also invested in landscaping and site development, incorporating green spaces, native plants, and walkways to complement Aurora’s natural beauty. Officials say the goal is to make the facility “not just a place to stay but a destination in itself.”

Looking ahead, APECO is banking on increased visitor arrivals with the recent reopening of the APECO Airstrip to chartered flights under a one-time permit. The agency is working toward securing a Permit to Operate before year’s end, which would eventually allow commercial flights into Casiguran.

The project is also expected to create ripple effects for the local economy by boosting demand for food, goods, transport, and other services, strengthening ties between the ecozone and its host communities.

Beyond the facilities, the reopening is seen as a step toward promoting the wider Dinalungan–Casiguran–Dilasag (DiCaDi) corridor as a tourism hub, highlighting natural attractions such as Casapsapan Beach, Tibu Tidal Pool, Motiong Beach, Dalugan Beach, Ontok Lighthouse, Dialang Falls, and Casiguran’s historic 419-year-old Ermita Church.

Early reservations are now open via apeco.gov.ph/hotel-and-villas.

Meanwhile, APECO has also begun the rehabilitation of the JPEC Buildings into the APECO Legacy Villas, which will further expand its accommodation capacity. The PHP20-million project is funded through the agency’s 2024 budget savings. (Jason de Asis)

📸 Perspective of the APECO Residences and Villas, which will open next month, offering guests a gateway to the beauty of the DiCaDi corridor. The newly renovated tourism properties inside the ecozone are expected to boost the tourism sector in Northern Aurora and create new opportunities for local communities. (APECO HO via Jason de Asis for Ang Pahayagan)