November 19, 2010

Philippine agriculture sector to build grains facility in Zamboanga del Norte

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing one of the towns in Zamboanga del Norte province as the site of the grains terminal facility that the agency will be constructing to boost the region's agricultural output.

Zamboanga del Norte Governor Rolando Yebes said that the construction of a PHP1.5-million (US$34,360) grains terminal facility is in line with the Aquino administration's campaign to increase corn production throughout the country.

Initially, the DA intends to build the grains terminal facility in the town of Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.

Yebes said the putting up of the grains terminal facility by the DA is a big boost to the agricultural sector in his province.

About half of the land area of Zamboanga del Norte, which comprises of two cities and 25 towns, is devoted to agriculture with rice, corn and coconut as the major crops. Also, Zamboanga del Norte is the largest province in the region in terms of land area.

DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said Wednesday (Nov17) that the grains terminal facility to be constructed in Zamboanga del Norte is one of the facilities the DA is putting up in the six regions of Mindanao.

With the new government's thrust on public-private partnership (PPP) projects, Alcala said that Mindanao is a priority beneficiary of the grain terminal project which he hopes to help strengthen the corn industry in the Mindanao.

The grains terminal is a storage facility that can prolong the shelf life of corn seeds for one year.

Meanwhile, Yebes disclosed that George Aseniero of the Zanorte Development Corporation has signified, as a private investor, his interest to be the government's partner in constructing a grains terminal in the town of Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.