December 30, 2020

Swine breeding facility to be set up in Isabela, Philippines

A PHP500 million (US$10,416,935) Swine Breeding Centre (SBC) will be set up in Ilagan City, Isabela, the Philippines, to help stabilise the hog industry in the region amid the threat of African swine fever (ASF).

The SBC was inaugurated by the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary, William Dar, and is a joint venture of Thailand's Charoen Pokhand Inc. and Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines Inc. The facility is located in Barangay Santa Victoria, Ilagan City.

Dar noted that around 2,400 swine breeders will be produced with the SBC facility and the production complex will revolutionise swine production not only in Isabela but also in Northern Luzon.

Dar said the SBC will be the source of quality breeder stocks for restocking/repopulation of local swine to help stabilise hog supply in Cagayan Valley's provinces of Cagayan, Isabela; Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino; and in nearby regions in Northern Luzon.

Ilagan City Mayor Josemarie Diaz said the investment made by Charoen Pokhand is recognition of Ilagan's potential in terms of agricultural production of grain products and livestock.

"We are very much thankful to Secretary Dar for giving opportunities to the provinces in the country and opening up business opportunities in agriculture production and for helping our farmers recover from the recent calamities, particularly massive flooding, brought about by recent typhoons that hit Region 2," the mayor added.

The Ilagan City government, represented by Diaz, and the Department of Agriculture, represented by Dar, also signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of the Ilagan Corn Processing Centre.

 - The Manila Times