APECO taps PPP to fund feasibility studies

THE Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is tapping the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center to fund feasibility studies for four priority projects that will support its Casiguran economic zone (ecozone).

Gene Angelo P. Ferrer, officer-in-charge at APECO’s Business Development and Marketing Division, said the PPP Center’s Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) will fund the feasibility studies.

APECO met is set to meet with the PPP Center last week to further discuss the projects to be covered by the PDMF.

At the same time, Ferrer said the state-run firm is also hoping to tap the Maritime Industry Authority for the feasibility study on its proposed Casiguran international seaport.

Ferrer added the proposed road and railway projects are being positioned as components of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) and Pax Silica.

The LEC is a multi-country partnership that seeks to improve connectivity in key areas like Subic Bay, Clark, Metro Manila, and Batangas.

The Philippines is a signatory to the Pax Silica, a Washington-led initiative that seeks to develop the global artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chain.

These projects include the Casiguran seaport and airport, as well as a railway and roads to connect the ecozone, which is on the Pacific coast, to western Luzon.

“These will be the four priority projects that we hope we can already finalize the project concept,” Ferrer explained.

In May this year, APECO and the PPP Center signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to help accelerate infrastructure development in the Casiguran ecozone.

Under the MoA, the PPP Center will provide project advisory services and technical assistance for project development in the ecozone.

The agreement also seeks to help APECO identify which projects are eligible for the PDMF, a revolving fund managed by the PPP Center for the procurement of advisory and support services related to the development of PPP projects.

APECO is also planning to bid out the construction contract for the P35-million Casiguran airport terminal and the P25-million control tower, APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Gil G. Taway IV told reporters.

Ferrer said bidding of thw air traffic control tower and thw terminal builsing will bid out by the endnod this month.

The Aurora ecozone is located 357 kilometers northeast of the Philippine capital. Its Pacific location is touted as an alternative shipping hub for major Asia-Pacific and North American markets.