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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Economy devider APECO moves forward with plans for domestic, international Casiguran airports

APECO moves forward with plans for domestic, international Casiguran airports

Published Mar 30, 2026 12:00 am  |  Updated Mar 28, 2026 11:44 am
The existing airstrip in APECO which is set to be developed into a commercial airport (APECO website)
The existing airstrip in APECO which is set to be developed into a commercial airport (APECO website)
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is advancing plans to develop a domestic airport at its site in Casiguran town in Aurora province, with bidding scheduled this year and commercial operations targeted by the second quarter of 2027.
APECO is also pursuing a future international airport in partnership with foreign investors, its president and chief executive officer (CEO) Gil G. Taway IV told reporters on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with InfiniVAN Inc. last Friday, March 27.
Taway said corrective measures at the airstrip are expected to be completed by June, with budgets already allocated for initial infrastructure.
Tendering for a passenger terminal building and an air traffic control tower is scheduled for April and May, with ₱35 million earmarked for the terminal and ₱25 million for the tower, Taway disclosed.
Bid documents and terms of reference (TOR) are still being finalized, while meetings with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and engineering consultants are underway to complete technical requirements for the air traffic control tower, he added.
According to Taway, the domestic airport facilities are designed for turboprop aircraft with 40 to 70 seats under 3C operation standards typical of regional airports and are not yet capable of accommodating larger jets like the A321.
Domestic operations are expected to commence next year, with discussions ongoing with Cebu Pacific, Taway said.
While private-sector partners will participate in airport operations and management (O&M), Taway said the government will remain at the forefront of overall strategy and oversight.
For the planned international airport expansion, APECO is negotiating with United States (US)-based firms, including a subsidiary of Cerberus, to explore full-scale development, aiming to adopt operational models similar to those in Europe and the US, according to Taway.
This airport project builds on earlier steps by APECO, including the 2025 acquisition of 12 hectares (ha) of land in Barangay Esteves, Casiguran, to expand the existing airstrip for commercial flights.
Corrective measures such as fencing and apron markings are being implemented to secure a permit to operate (PTO) from CAAP, supported by higher allocations in the record ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget.
These efforts are part of APECO’s ongoing push to attract investment and improve regional connectivity.

Related Tags

Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) Gil G. Taway IV Cerberus Cebu Pacific
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