Aquino opens P750-million corn processing plant in Isabela

REINA MERCEDES, Isabela, Philippines – President Aquino started his post-100 days in office yesterday by visiting this country’s leading agricultural province where he presided over the inauguration of a multimillion-peso corn processing plant, touted as the biggest in Southeast Asia.

Witnessed by thousands of corn farmers from all over the country, the President, along with provincial leaders led by Gov. Faustino Dy III, pressed on the green button, symbolizing the formal start of operation of the P750-million corn processing plant.

The plant, located along the national highway in Barangay Nappaccu Pequeno here, was made possible through the initiatives of the Mindanao Grains Processing Co. and the Philippine Maize Federation Inc.

“We thanked those behind the project here. This would surely help us in improving the living conditions of our corn farmers and the (country’s) corn industry in general,” said Mr. Aquino, who delivered his message entirely in Filipino.

Lauding corn farmers, the President said the corn industry plays a crucial role in pump-priming the economy.

The corn facility, which covers a five-hectare development zone and a 25-hectare buffer zone, was put up to further enhance agricultural efficiency, especially in the production, drying and milling of corn.

Corn, mostly produced in Cagayan Valley, with Isabela being the country’s top corn-producing province, is a major component in the processing of animal feeds and fertilizers.

Dr. Alfonso Uy, chairman of Mindanao Grains, said the project aims to help corn farmers by purchasing their produce and dry these using high-quality standards for milling and processing.

When fully completed, Uy said the facility could dry, process and mill at least 100,000 metric tons of newly harvested corn at a time.

Project proponents said similar state-of-the-art corn post-harvest facilities will also be put up in the region’s other corn-producing areas such as Tumauini and Solana towns in Isabela and Cagayan, respectively.

While here, the President also graced the closing ceremony of the three-day 7th Corn National Congress participated in by corn farmers from all over the country.

Besides Uy, who is also the national president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the President was accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and his assistant secretary, Dennis Araullo, who is also the agency’s rice and corn program coordinator.

“With this facility, our farmers can now look forward to benefiting from better prices for their produce, aside from the technical assistance they could gain from it. Our (corn farmers) will no longer be on the losing end,” Dy said.

 “We are very thankful for the President’s visit. His presence, along with top (agriculture) officials, was a manifestation of his support and deep concern for our corn farmers not only in this part of the region but throughout the country,” Dy added.    

This was the second time the President visited the province since he took office. He made his first visit three months ago to pay respects to two of seven Army enlisted personnel killed in an ambush in Mt. Province.