Agri unit lines up P90-M investment proposals

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. (PADCC) has lined up P90 million worth of agribusiness investment proposals for the Visayas region.

The agribusiness projects were presented during the first Visayas Agribusiness Market Place (VAMP) held last Nov. 22 at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo City.

PADCC president Mariz Agbon said “we chose Visayas to do the first regional Agribusiness Marketplace because it shows the rest of the Philippines that the National Convergence Initiative really works.”

Agbon, who is also the National Convergence Initiative Focal Person, said that in a report to the DA-DAR-DENR National Convergence Initiative steering committee headed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, at least 10 investment-ready proposals have been evaluated and designed for marketing and business matching.

The VAMP showcased the packaged investment proposals that will promote investments into new agribusiness areas in the country. 

The AIPs were prepared by the different proponents particularly cooperatives from Regions VI, VII and VIII.

A number of private investors and possible financial partners joined the market place.

It was the perfect avenue for forging of agreements between the investors and proponents of the projects.

On top of the list is a P45-million project on abaca fiber processing and marketing as proposed by Barbaza Multi-purpose Cooperative.

There is an existing 378-hectare of abaca plantation in the local convergence agro-enterprise cluster of Central Antique covering five municipalities which has a huge potential for expansion.

Following the Abaca project is the Installation of a Sterilization Facility in the Negros Oriental Dairy Processing Plant (NDPP) amounting to P14 million. The project will produce 180-ml sterilized milk product in pouches that would last up to six months at ambient temperature.

This would be a boost to the food industry of Negros Oriental and would alleviate the livelihood of local dairy men.

Aside from these projects, the VAMP also presented projects for processing plants of cassava grates and flour, processing and marketing of native chicken, coco sugar, squash noodles, tilapia nuggets, jackfruit production and processing, organic peanut production and sibukao business for firewood, among others.

The VAMP was made possible through the assistance of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation or GTZ.

GTZ is an active development partner of the DA-DAR-DENR National Convergence Initiative on its various programs and endeavors towards sustainable rural development of the country.