The first state-of-the-art cold chain and food processing facility is rising in Casiguran, Aurora, following the signing of a lease agreement between project proponent TGV Development Corp. (TGV) and the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO).
Atty. Gil Taway IV, APECO president, and Rene Tayag, signed the lease contracts for TGV and Central Sierra Hotels and Resorts Inc. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in BGC, Taguig.
TGV’s cold chain facility is part of the roughly P200-million investment by businessman Tayag in APECO. Of the P200 million, P40 million will go to the TGV project, while the remainder will be allocated for Central Sierra’s hotel and resort development venture.
According to Tayag, TGV will operate an ice plant and marine products processing center. The ice plant will have an initial capacity of 20 tons of tube ice to cater to the needs of TGV and Central Sierra, and local market.
The processing facility will have an initial capacity of 2 tons of fish, including premium species. The large-scale ice production is expected to cut ice prices in Casiguran from P10 to only P5 per plastic bag.
Part of the processed fish will be brought to its cold chain distribution center in Pampanga. Additional supplies will also go to Central Sierra. Locals may store their food at TGV for a minimal fee.
If power rates can be lowered to at least P11 per kilowatt-hour, Tayag expects further reduction in the cost of storage, ultimately leading to cheaper fish prices in the local market.
TGV is currently in negotiation with the local government for a water lease over more than 100 hectares. The Casiguran Sound has an estimated 8,000 hectares of water suitable for potential bangus farming.
Tayag stated that they are also applying for a loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for project financing. He noted that they have a good track record with the DBP, which extends financing for countryside development projects.
The cold storage facility is expected to be completed in 8 to 12 months. However, he mentioned that the hotel and resort project is anticipated to be finished ahead of TGV’s cold storage facility.
Meantime, Central Sierra is an 80-room hotel, including at least 10 luxury villas, on a 1.5-hectare leased land in APECO. It will also develop a berthing marina facility and two boats, one 25 feet and one 30 feet, to attract more tourists to the area.
For his part, APECO President Taway stated that the two projects, which will begin construction next month, in April, are currently the only two active locators in APECO. There used to be five, but they were largely engaged in POGO operations.
“The docking and port facilities will open opportunities never seen before in Aurora,” he said, stressing that APECO should serve as a significant catalyst for Aurora’s growth. He vowed to create a lasting impact on the province’s economy.
He praised TGV and Central Sierra for “betting on us,” as he promised seamless registration for the first two projects through APECO’s its special lane unit.
