APECO secures 12-hectare land for airport development
The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has acquired an additional 12 hectares of land for the development of the existing APECO Airstrip into a commercial airport.
In a news release on Wednesday, APECO said the 12-hectare land is located in Barangay Esteves, Casiguran.
The acquisition was sealed with landowners, Atty. Edward Chua Cham and Magdalena Chua Cham, through an agreement signed with APECO president and CEO Atty. Gil Taway IV.
Under the agreement, the Chua Cham family donated 5.2 hectares of land to APECO, representing half of the Casiguran airstrip located in the economic zone, and sold an additional 6.8 hectares.
'APECO's potential to do more depends on the amount of land we administer. In our continuing land acquisition efforts, we were left with higher rates beyond the zonal valuation. APECO, however, was able to acquire the property from the Chua Cham family at 50% less than the previous buying rate, which we consider highly advantageous to the government,' Taway said.
'Their contribution strengthens our capacity to realize inclusive economic development for the people of Aurora. Their generosity is a testament to the growing public support for APECO's current direction, a powerful vote of confidence in our goal of Bagong APECO,' he added.
Atty. Chua Cham said donating and selling their land are their family's way of supporting APECO's vision of bringing progress and opportunities to the northeastern part of Luzon.
'We believe that the development of the APECO Airport is not just a project for Casiguran; it is a project for the Filipino people. This is our small way of contributing to nation-building. We have seen how determined the current administration and APECO's leadership are in driving economic development in Aurora. We hope that our gesture encourages others to support projects that aim to uplift communities and boost economic development,' he said.
The APECO Airport is a critical infrastructure project that will significantly improve accessibility to Aurora and the northeastern Luzon economic corridor.
The operationalization of the APECO Airport is also aimed at boosting investments and trade by providing direct air links for business travelers, investors, and cargo.
In February 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) inspected and assessed the condition of the Casiguran airstrip. The visit paved the way for recommendations for the issuance of a Permit to Operate (PTO).
'We are working with CAAP and other key agencies to fast-track this project. The APECO Airport will not only serve as a gateway to Aurora, but it will also be a gateway to new opportunities for the Philippines,' Taway said. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos: OFWs deserve 'full support'
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Saturday that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should receive "full support" from the government as he provided updates on initiatives aimed at improving their welfare. In his speech to the Filipino community in Osaka, Japan, Marcos stated that the government is making sure that opportunities are available to OFWs who choose to retire in the Philippines. ''Hangad din namin maging maayos ang inyong pagdating at pag-alis sa ating bansa. Kaya naman naglaan tayo ng OFW Lounge sa airport para may lugar kung saan puwedeng magpahinga,'' he said. ''Masigasig din ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba't ibang bansang tumatanggap ng ating manggagawa para makabuo ng bilateral labor agreement upang matiyak natin na ligtas at makatao ang trabaho, at nabibigyan ng pagkakataong umunlad ang ating mga kababayan.'' (We also want your arrival and departure from our country to be smooth. That is why we have provided an OFW Lounge at the airport so that you can have a place to rest. We are also actively engaging with various countries that receive our workers to craft bilateral labor agreements so that we can ensure that work is safe and humane and that our compatriots are given the opportunity to succeed.) Marcos also recognized the sacrifices of OFWs to provide for their families in the Philippines. ''And that is why we will never tire of honoring you and finding ways to improve your lives. You are at the heart of our government's efforts, and you deserve not only our gratitude but also our full support,'' he said. Filipinos in Japan can also play a role in building "even stronger connections in shared values for a mutually stable, secure, and prosperous relationship between our two countries," the President said. 'This is why I hope you will join me and the Philippine nation in helping our community here in Japan to grow even more in love with the Philippines, to learn and embrace fully your Filipino identity, and to support our nation's aspirations for unity, for peace, and for prosperity,' he said. Marcos is in Japan for a working visit, which includes meetings with local businessmen and a visit to the Philippine Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. He is expected to return to the Philippines on Sunday. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
NRDC chief urges climate partnership at Cebu forum
At the Climate Solutions Forum in Cebu on June 18, 2025, new Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC) President and CEO Benjamin Turgano delivered his first policy speech, urging local governments, universities, and businesses to unite behind a bold plan for regenerative development. The event was organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) in partnership with the German Embassy Manila, where around 80 leaders from government, local businesses, embassies, and German companies gathered. It aimed to showcase real-world solutions in clean energy, circular economy, and climate resilience. In his speech, Turgano said the Philippines sits at a defining moment for environmental action. 'We convene today at a critical inflection point in our nation's and the world's ecological and development history… to re‑imagine, re‑calibrate, and re‑commit to the singular goal of safeguarding life while enabling prosperity,' he said. Turgano unveiled a 'Seven‑Pillar Convergence Agenda' to guide long-term climate solutions across regions. These pillars serve as anchors for cross‑sectoral partnerships that leverage science, policy, and community empowerment,' he said. The plan pushes for deeper regional action in areas such as carbon trading, clean energy micro‑grids, coastal resource stewardship, watersheds, mine site recovery, waste-to-energy infrastructure, and green business incubation in schools. He highlighted the importance of public lands as places that both earn revenue and restore nature. 'Every peso invested in public lands is not only generating financial return, but simultaneously producing ecological goods, restored soil fertility, flood control, water security, carbon sequestration, habitat restoration, biodiversity recovery, and community resilience,' he said. Turgano also proposed a 'National Coalition for Sustainability and Regeneration' to turn short-term projects into long-lasting, measurable collaborations among all sectors. 'What we are confronting is not merely an environmental challenge. It is a profound test of our national character… Will we finally rise to become what our people have always had the capacity to be? A nation whose prosperity flows not from depletion, but from renewal,' he said, The forum also spotlighted Cebu's role as a key economic center outside Manila. Turgano urged Visayas and Mindanao to lead by example. 'We know that the tools exist. That the science is already here. That technologies are emerging… That people are ready to participate,' he said, His message: Regions must champion regenerative growth, and combining economic opportunity with ecological stewardship. 'Sustainability requires sustained efforts and sustained alliances. Again, we humbly invite you. Let us embrace the Seven Pillar Convergence Agenda and help establish the National Coalition for Sustainability and Regeneration… In the name of the Filipino people… let us build the regenerative republic and let us build a better world,' he said.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
OFWs in US face higher remittance tax under Trump 'big' bill
Sandi Agustin counts dollars as she and many other overseas FIlipino workers (OFWs) in America brace for a potential rise in the US tax for money remitted to families in the Philippines under the administration of Donald Trump. DAVE LLAVANES JR. NEW YORK — Thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United States could soon be burdened with higher remittance costs if the proposed One Big, Beautiful Wall Act pushed by US President Donald Trump is enacted into law. Under the proposed measure, a 3.5% excise tax would be imposed on all money sent outside the US, including remittances to the Philippines. This means that non-US citizens sending money to their families back home could soon be paying significantly higher fees. For worker Sandi Agustin, who regularly sends money to relatives in the Philippines, the proposed tax is too heavy a burden. "For me, that's a big increase for ordinary workers like us here in America. Everyone knows that we don't just pick money up off the street here—we work hard for it. And instead of going entirely to our families, part of it will now go to taxes. It's really hard for us," Sandi told GMA Integrated News. Sandi sends money to her family in the Philippines about four times a month. Currently, she pays around $10 in transfer fees each time. But with the proposed excise tax, that amount could skyrocket to as much as $140 per month. "I usually send money weekly or bi-weekly. But if this tax becomes law, I might have to limit it to just once a month. If that's the rule, we'll follow it—we are law-abiding immigrants after all," she added. Arturo Reyes, a dialysis technician, shares Sandi's concern. He appealed to the US government to reconsider or reduce the proposed tax, especially since many Filipinos in America are already struggling to support families back home. According to Reyes, he typically pays $7 to send $1,000 to the Philippines. Under the new proposal, that fee could rise to $35 per $1,000 sent—a 500% increase. "That's a big deal for us because Filipinos here in America work double time just to send money home. I appeal to President Trump—please lower the 3.5%, make it even lower. I hope you understand the situation of all Filipinos here in America," Reyes said. Aside from higher fees, the proposed law also mandates stricter verification requirements for remittance centers, raising concerns that it might expose the immigration status of some senders, especially those who are undocumented. The United States remains the largest source of remittances to the Philippines, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Last year alone, Filipino workers in the US sent about $14 billion back home. If passed, the One Big, Beautiful Wall Act could significantly impact the flow of remittances from the US, affecting countless Filipino families who rely on that financial lifeline for daily expenses, education, and medical needs. As of now, the bill is still pending in the US Congress, and many OFWs are closely watching developments, hoping for a more favorable outcome. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
