DA eyes major deals for Sulu projects

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to enter into billions of pesos worth of partnership with large private companies in a bid to alleviate poverty in the war-torn Sulu Island of Mindanao.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the agency was able to get commitments from the food division of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. of Ramon Ang, business tycoons Manny Pangilinan and Lucio Tan, leading broiler integrator Bounty Fresh Group of Companies, hybrid rice seeds producer Henry Lim of SL Agritech, and Go Negosyo advocate Joey Concepcion among others.

“We have yet to evaluate the (exact) value and investment that will be involved. But it could run to a couple of billion pesos of investment,” Piñol told reporters in a chance interview.

The agri chief and the business executives would present to President Duterte the masterplan dubbed as the Save Sulo Project on Dec. 19 while full swing construction is slated by early next year.

The MVP Group is coming in with improved telecommunications and power investments, Henry Lim and Lucio Tan will build classrooms while San Miguel will invest in milling facilities to improve the local poultry sector.

The province of Sulu cannot produce enough chicken for its people’s consumption and broiler chicken supply comes from as far as Davao City, General Santos City, and Cagayan de Oro.