Washington D.C.-based defense logistics firm Anglicotech Inc. is keen on investing an initial USD 250 million to develop climate-controlled warehouses and a defense manufacturing hub within the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone in Casiguran.
Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV told reporters that Anglicotech CEO David Cooper recently conducted an ocular inspection of the APECO facility as a follow-up to their discussions during APECO’s investment mission to the U.S.
“The estimated initial investment is USD250 million,” said Taway.
Initially, Taway said, Anglicotech was only interested in building climate-controlled warehouses, but after visiting APECO’s site, the company expanded its plans to include drone manufacturing and an ammunition factory.
Taway explained that the climate-controlled warehouses would be used to store MREs (meals ready to eat) and medicines for humanitarian aid and relief operations during calamities. “According to the U.S. company, they’re close to deciding to locate in APECO,” said Taway.
Cooper, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, also served as one of the panelists during an APECO Business Forum with Indonesia.
During 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,” Cooper said, noting that Aurora’s relatively uncongested airspace makes it suitable for unmanned systems training and operations.
Interest from American defense and ammunition firms in the Philippines has increased following the passage of the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act (SRDP), which was signed in October 2024 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The SRDP seeks to develop the country’s local defense manufacturing capability, covering areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), and ammunition production.
