PGMA to launch multi-million banana, poultry projects
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Davao City – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will launch tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 5) the P500 million Saba
Banana Integrated Development Program in this city.
The project, spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry, will process fresh banana of the saba
variety into microwavable chips, fries and rolls for the local and export markets.
According to Sagrex Food Inc., which operates the project, the products have a ready market in the United
States, Canada, and the Middle East, where there is a great concentration of Filipino migrant workers.
The firm is also eyeing potential markets in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Australia.
Exports of the production is expected to generate a revenue of $12 million a year.
The country already exports banana chips made from the Cardaba variety. However, Cardaba, largely grown in
backyard gardens, has very poor yield. It thus cannot cope with the growing demand.
To ensure steady supply of raw materials, the project proponents have contracted out production to 400 farmer-
entrepreneurs. A tissue culture laboratory and nursery have also been set up in support of the venture.
The current saba production is estimated at ten tons a year. With the program in full operation, production will
rise to 30 to 40 tons a year.
At a contracted floor price of per kilo, each farmer with a two hectare plantation can gross up to P360,000 a year.
On the same occasion, the President will inaugurate the P65-million virtual poultry farming program.
Also a DTI project, but this time in partnership with San Miguel Foods, Inc., the poultry raising project, is co
owned by Maharlika Agro Venture Corporation, which controls 51 percent of the P65 million stock, and the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration member-investors, who hold the newly issued 7 percent redeemable
preferred shares of North Star Asia Holdings Corp.
Other shareholders are DTI and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
The program aims to make OWWA-members active participants in the poultry industry as holders of the
preferred shares of a financially stable poultry company.
Maharlika is a breeder and grower of grandparent stock under SMFI contract.
Apart from DTI, the other agencies of the government that participated to make the two projects a reality are
Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Employment,
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of
the Philippines.
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'Dismantling private armies needs everyone's support'
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Dismantling of private armies is a task that needs the support of everyone.
Presidential economic Spokesman Gary Olivar made the observation at a media briefing this afternoon in
Malacanang.
Last December, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Administrative Order 275 creating a commission
tasked to dismantle private armies. The order was prompted by the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao by
an armed group allegedly controlled by the Ampatuan clan.
Olivar said, however that the commission can hope to attain its objective only if it has the support of the general
public.
“This is an undertaking not just by the administration or the commission but by all of us who wish to put an end
to the kind of violence that occurred last year in Maguindanao,” Olivar said.
According to Olivar, the administrative order places under the commission all available resources of the
government to complete the task within the four-month deadline.
He pointed out that the commission, which has a multi-sectoral composition, is mandated to consult with, and
thus will need the support of, all stakeholders.
“The commission deserves our full support, not our pre-judgment,” Olivar said.
President Arroyo, he said, hopes to stamp out the decades-old problem before stepping down from office six
month from now.
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'Gov't won't condone special treatment for Maguindanao massacre suspects'
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The government applies the law equally to everyone and will not condone special treatment of those under
detention even if they are politically powerful.
In a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Presidential Economic Spokesman Gary Olivar said all
suspects must be treated equally, including the Ampatuans.
“Equal application of the law and regulations must be observed, especially in this particular case,” Olivar said.
Newspaper reports have it that the suspects in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao are being treated
like honored guests in their detention cell in General Santos City.
Olivar said appropriate rules of conduct when holding suspects in detention should be strictly followed and
must not be abused by anyone. He added that even powerful people should not be exempt from these rules.
According to Olivar, one way of resolving the issue is to follow the suggestion of the Philippine National Police
(PNP) to move the Ampatuans to its headquarters in Quezon City.
Still, Olivar said, it is incumbent upon those who raised the accusation to point out the law and regulations that
have been violated in the treatment of the suspects.
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