Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid led the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ) Visitors Complex on Wednesday morning, in line with the 84th commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan in Pilar.

Lapid said the development aims to transform the Mt. Samat National Shrine from a traditional tourist destination into a “premier, immersive historical site” for both local and international visitors.

The planned visitors complex will feature three key facilities: a tourist assistance center, a visitors center, and a multipurpose administration building. Construction is expected to be completed by June 2027, backed by a ₱170-million fund from the TIEZA.

Also present at the ceremony were Endo Kazuya, Robert Ewing, Reynaldo Mapagu, Jose Enrique Garcia III, and Albert Garcia, highlighting the significance of the project in preserving and promoting the country’s historical heritage.