BREAKING GROUND. Photo shows (from left to right) Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Senator Franklin Drilon, and SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang, together with local officials of Iloilo, as they break ground for a PHP6.7-billion production facility in Barangay Gua-an, Leganes on Friday (Sept. 20, 2019). The project is expected to boost the economic activity and help in job generation in Western Visayas. (PNA photo by Perla G. Lena)
LEGANES, Iloilo -- The municipality of Leganes was full of gratitude for the PHP6.7-billion brewery facility project of the San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) that will rise in the town’s Barangay Gua-an within two years.
Leganes Mayor Vincent Jaen II, in his message during the groundbreaking ceremony held Friday, said the project will help them complete the three-point agenda of his administration.
“This third point is the progressive Leganes for all wherein we envision big investments, creating employment of Leganesnons and increasing revenues for our town, which in turn will be plowed back towards efficient, timely and competent assistance for Leganesnons of all classes,” he said.
That point, he said, will serve as the driver for them to put together in full circle the other two points, which are “providing quality livelihood and prioritizing the needy”.
The project will rise on a 40-hectare lot in Barangay Gua-an. The municipality of Leganes is located 11 kilometers north of Iloilo City.
Once completed, the brewing facility will have an initial capacity of one million hectoliters.
SMB president Roberto N. Huang said their presence could help in the “industrialization and beautification of the town of Leganes”.
“Our SMB is not just a company of expert brewers and producers of quality products and services but we are all also your dependable partner towards progress,” Huang said.
Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon, who graced the event, shared that he met with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang together with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. last August 30.
Drilon said he was impressed when he was informed by Ang of SMB’s plan to put up a production facility in Leganes. Also on the same day, they set the Sept. 20 groundbreaking for the project.
The facility is part of the ongoing expansion program of San Miguel to grow its core business, meet increased demand, and bring economic growth and jobs to key regions nationwide.
Currently, SMB has two breweries in the Visayas region – the Mandaue brewery that was established in 1968 and Bacolod brewery in 1990.
“I am particularly thankful and proud that San Miguel Brewery led by its chairman Ramon Ang has chosen Iloilo as the third production facility in the Visayas,” Drilon said.
He noted that two years from now, the project will be providing employment to hundreds of Ilonggos.
Ang, prior to his ceremonial toast, assured Ilonggos that they “will invest more in Iloilo”. (PNA)
