Photo from Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO)/Facebook
The Aurora Pacific Economic and Freeport Zone Authority (Apeco) is set to construct a multi-million lagoon project inside their economic zone in the province of Aurora, marking the latest development in the hub’s infrastructure push.
Apeco President and Chief Executive Officer Gil Taway IV said that construction for the “Apeco Grand Lagoon” inside the 13,000-hectare economic zone will begin in November.
“We are expecting tourist arrivals here in Aurora to increase, and also in DiCaDi (Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag),” Taway told reporters on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We will have what we call a glamping area here, where we stand. And we will have gondolas, boats, boutiques, and restaurants,” he also said, adding that they will be building 80 rooms for the glamping (glamorous camping) zone.
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The Apeco chief also said they have set aside funding of P50 million to P70 million for the first phase, which will span two hectares.
For her part, Apeco Board Chairperson Anelyn Ciudadano said one of the key focuses of the project is on sustainable development.
The primary purpose is really to generate jobs. So, we are focusing, actually, even pre(project), when we talk about it, the objective is to give more jobs,” she said.
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Between 500 to 1,000 jobs are expected to be created from the establishment of the project.
During his first “state of the Apeco” address, Taway said they have completed a substantial number of projects during his first year in office – projects that have made the economic zone attractive to investors.
These include, among others, a fire station, the phase 1 of a sewage treatment plant, and the redeveloped administration building.
“Apeco shall introduce more revenue-generating infrastructure projects. In the next months to come, we are ready to ground break mixed commercial and corporate office spaces,” he said.