The cancellation of the "small amnesty" ASRV visa has attracted widespread attention in the Philippine-Chinese investment community. Media interviews with the President and CEO of the Philippine Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), Gil Gian Tawi IV, were conducted to understand the considerations behind the policy and the future direction of the APECO economic zone.
Tawi explained that APECO is located on the eastern coast of the Pacific in the Philippines, situated between the Sierra Madre mountain range and the San Ildefonso Peninsula, boasting a natural harbor and a strategic location as a key gateway to the Philippine Sea. Previously, the economic zone was almost vacant, with the only active enterprise being a POGO company occupying the administrative building, while employees had to work in small villas and temporary container offices.
Upon taking office, Tawi proposed a new strategic direction focusing on the three pillars of "food security, energy security, and national security," completely transforming APECO's development path. He initiated the eviction of POGO operators and introduced new investment projects centered on renewable energy, resort development, and fishery processing. Currently, a Singaporean company is about to build a 16-megawatt solar power plant, and negotiations for a power purchase agreement with the local electric cooperative are nearing completion. Central Sierra Resort and TGV Group have also started construction, planning to build 70 high-end villas and a modern pier, cold storage, and fish processing plant, respectively.
Tawi emphasized that APECO welcomes all legal investors of any nationality, especially from economic powerhouses like the USA and China, but firmly refuses to allow the landing of "gray industries" related to fraud or illegal gambling, such as POGO. He stated that POGO could not bring social welfare, contradicting the economic zone's mission to promote development, create jobs, and drive the economy of surrounding provinces.
Currently, 14 companies have registered with APECO, of which only four have started construction. More companies are in the process of submitting registration applications. The economic zone is gradually repairing infrastructure, promoting the implementation of immediately usable buildings such as conference centers and office buildings, and constructing the Grand Lagoon project, which integrates styles from Kyoto, Venice, and Amsterdam, aiming to create a regional hub for tourism, commerce, and leisure.
APECO is actively attracting investment from ASEAN countries, including China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, striving to become an emerging logistics, energy, and agricultural center in Asia. Tawi believes that although the road ahead is long, by continuing to advance with "small steps, quick pace," APECO will achieve sustainable development and become a center for regional investment and opportunities within the next two to ten years.
