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Filipino-owned firm to put up coco processing plant in MisOcc

By Prexx Marnie Kate Trozo

March 4, 2021, 5:00 pm

DAVAO CITY – Farmers in Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Region can now expect relief from low coconut prices after a Filipino-owned processing company promised competitive prices, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Thursday.

Piñol was referring to Peter Paul Philippines, which is into processing and manufacturing of virgin coconut oil, coconut water, desiccated coconut, and other high-value products.

Peter Paul Philippines is set to open a modern coconut processing facility in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, which could employ some 2,000 families in the province, Piñol said.

The "Plaridel Processing Facility" would initially need 250,000 husked coconuts daily, according to MinDA, quoting the firm's assistant vice president for special projects, Quirino Panganiban.

Peter Paul Philippines, also known as Consolidated Coconut Corp. and a former subsidiary of the Connecticut, USA-based Peter Paul Inc., has already laid the groundwork for the establishment of the facility in a five-hectare area in Plaridel, MinDA said.

Panganiban was quoted as saying that the volume would require a workforce consisting of 800 workers, which could go to as high as 2,000 when the facility goes into full operation.

He said the company would also offer buying prices higher than other traders' prevailing farm gate prices.

According to Panganiban, the Plaridel processing plant would be their third in the country, with the first plant established in Candelaria, Quezon in 1946, and recently in Sorsogon.

Panganiban said the corporation decided to expand its operations in Mindanao following improved peace and order conditions and the scarce supply of coconut in Quezon and the Bicol Region.

“On Monday (March 1), the Mindanao Development Authority met with Misamis Occidental Rep. Diego Ty, officials of Peter Paul Philippines, and stakeholders to come up with a plan on how to ensure stable coconut supply for the facility,” Piñol said.

MinDA will link up coconut farmers associations and cooperatives in Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Region with the new facility, he added. (PNA)

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