American defense firms and U.S. Marine Corps veterans said the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) can be developed as base for unmanned defense logistics systems while supporting humanitarian and disaster response efforts under the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) law.
This was raised by David Cooper, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of defense logistics firm Anglicotech, at the recently concluded 1st APECO Business Forum.
The SRDP law, signed in October 2024 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., seeks to develop local defense manufacturing capability, covering areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO), ammunition, and propellant production.
At the forum, Cooper said that the ecozone’s geography and infrastructure could support both defense and commercial activities, from large drone logistics to warehousing and maintenance facilities.
“One advantage you can have when you aren’t as developed as your neighbor is you can leapfrog. You can leapfrog technology and process, and I think what we could possibly do with the airport in APECO is actually bring in an unmanned systems hub for Luzon. So I’m thinking of unmanned logistics, I’m thinking of very large logistics drones,” Mr. Cooper said, noting that Aurora’s relatively uncongested airspace makes it suitable for unmanned systems training and operations.
The Anglicotech founder also highlighted Casiguran’s deep-water port, which he said could become a “bespoke supply chain node” serving both commercial and national security purposes. Currently used by ships as a storm refuge, the harbor may prove even deeper than Subic Bay with further development, according to Mr. Cooper.
He added that the Casiguran seaport complements congested hubs like Manila while extending Philippine access eastward to Guam, Palau, and other Pacific routes.
Another U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mr. Tim Koeppl, who is also the president of MariSOC LLC, drew comparisons to Djibouti, whose economy has grown rapidly since transforming into a logistics and defense hub, which could be “a template for what APECO could be”.
The investors said APECO’s available land and streamlined governance structure could allow it to host such industries, reducing bureaucratic hurdles that typically discourage foreign firms.
At the same time, the two U.S. veterans emphasized the dual-use value of APECO’s defense-oriented assets. Technologies used for national security, including drones and logistics equipment are also critical in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, a frequent need in a country vulnerable to typhoons and other natural disasters.
“Defense also is very close to humanitarian assistance,” Mr. Cooper said. “It’s the same equipment, the same people that are there when you need that problem solved.”
By positioning itself as both a strategic defense outpost and a supply chain alternative on Luzon’s Pacific coast, APECO aims to attract interest from industries seeking resilience amid shifting geopolitical currents.
“APECO’s location, deep-water port, and airfield give us the ability to support both commercial and defense industries. Our vision is to create the country’s first national defense base that also serves humanitarian and economic purposes: to generate jobs for Aurora, build resilience for communities, and strengthen the Philippines’ role in the Indo-Pacific. We are opening our doors to defense and dual-use firms to be part of this development and help us shape a secure and inclusive future,” said APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV.
