The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has sought the intervention of Finance Secretary Frederick Go to push its agenda for the government to declare its flagship project, the Casiguran International Seaport, a national priority—targeting not just Pacific countries but also European maritime trade.
APECO President and CEO Gil G. Taway IV held discussions with Secretary Go last March 27, 2026, to present the request. Declaring the project a national priority is a key step in positioning the province as the Philippines’ gateway to the trans-Pacific.
Taway said they are not asking for funding, but only for a government declaration recognizing the project as a national priority due to its implications for Korean and American companies. He noted that such a declaration is a requirement for Yooshin Engineering Corporation and the Philippines’ Lordsbridge Resources Corporation, which earlier relayed to Taway the positive response from Korean funders.
With this positive development, Taway said they are also in talks with the mayors for the expansion of the freeport zone. At present, the APECO jurisdiction covers properties in Casiguran (Parcel 1) with 496 hectares, Dinalungan, and Dilasig.
The planned seaport, which is in Bangas Point, is outside the jurisdiction of APECO. It is the subject of a white paper to push for the expansion of APECO’s jurisdiction.
According to PCEO Taway, the Casiguran seaport is a “very ambitious” project that will double the size of the 750-hectare Busan Port.
He noted that the trade volume between EU economies and Pacific Rim countries is estimated at USD960 billion. He cited the Port of Antwerp as a model.
“It’s going to be a modern international seaport,” he said that will make it a compelling business case to get European economies to locate and do business at APECO freeport.
In October last year, APECO signed a tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA) with South Korea’s Yooshin Engineering Corporation and the Philippines’ Lordsbridge Resources Corporation to develop the Casiguran International New Port, an estimated PHP4.7-billion flagship infrastructure project aimed at positioning Aurora as a key maritime gateway to the Pacific.
The partnership marked a renewed phase of Korea–Philippines cooperation, aimed at transforming Casiguran into a major logistics and trade hub connecting the country directly to Pacific shipping routes and the markets of Northeast Asia and the Northern Pacific.
Under the agreement, Yooshin Engineering will lead the updating of the 2011 Korean Export-Import (KEXIM) Bank feasibility study, covering technical, financial, environmental, and social aspects of the port project. The Korean firm is currently involved in the 32.47-kilometer PGN bridges connecting Panay, Guimaras, and Negros islands, as well as the conceptual design and construction supervision of the Cebu International Container Port, bringing its proven expertise in large-scale infrastructure projects to the Casiguran International New Port development.
Meanwhile, Lordsbridge Resources will serve as the developer and funding coordinator, engaging Korean and international financial institutions, while APECO will provide policy, logistical, and data support for the study.
In a 2011 feasibility study by KEXIM Bank, Bangas Point in Casiguran Bay was identified as an optimal site due to its deep waters and natural protection from typhoons.
According to the earlier port study, the Casiguran Port would cost around USD56 million. Adjusted for inflation, the current investment required to build the infrastructure is estimated at around USD83 million (PHP4.7 billion).
The KEXIM Bank feasibility study noted that the port will feature multipurpose berths, passenger and fishery wharves, and supporting facilities. It is expected to handle over 1 million tons of cargo annually once operational, serving as the logistics backbone of the APECO Freeport. The updated study will support the project’s funding applications and development framework for Korean official development assistance (ODA) and/or private sector investment.
The development will proceed in phases, starting with the updated feasibility study in 2025–2026, followed by design and regulatory approvals in 2026–2027, construction and development from 2027 to 2030, and full completion targeted by 2030.
