The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) wants to partner with the United States to build the country’s first national defense hub within its ecozone in Casiguran, Aurora in Central Luzon.

APECO executives led by preesident and chief executive officer Gil Taway IV concluded their investment mission in the US on Aug. 26 to invite American businesses to look into investment opportunities in Aurora ecozone.

During the investment mission, Taway also met with Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez on Aug. 14, 2024.

Taway told the Philippine News Agency Tuesday that Romualdez expressed his “full support” to make APECO as the country’s first national defense hub.

The delegation also met Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Roy Anthony Derilo of the Philippine Army, and Naval Attaché Capt. James Francis Lugtu of the Philippine Navy, as an initial step to link APECO to key players in the US defense industry.

“Receiving Ambassador Romualdez’ endorsement is a significant milestone towards APECO’s strategic direction to become the Philippines’ first national defense hub. We are excited to build on this momentum, to deepen our international collaborations especially with our key allies, and most importantly for APECO to begin contributing towards the country’s national security agenda,” Taway said.

He said APECO offers the nearest safe harbor to the Philippine Rise and is the only ecozone with direct access to the Pacific Eastern seaboard.

He said with the ongoing conflict in the West Philippine Sea, APECO emerges as the most strategic option for the country’s national defense strategy.

“Casiguran’s locational advantage coupled with natural barriers provided by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and the San Ildefonso Peninsula makes APECO the perfect nexus of the country’s defense industry,” Taway said.

The APECO chief also assured US defense industry players of the investment promotion agency’s ease of doing business.

“APECO’s identity is firmly rooted in our vision to become the first national defense-oriented economic zone in the country. This direction will only come to fruition with proactive engagement from our American allies,” Taway said. (PNA)