POULTRY FARM. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) and San Miguel Corporation president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang unveil the landmark of the World-Class Controlled-Climate Magnolia Poultry Farm on Thursday (Oct. 12, 2023) at Hagonoy, Davao del Sur. A project of San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI), the mega farm anticipates the production of 80 million birds or about 200 million kilos in live weight per farm to be harvested annually. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)
HAGONOY, Davao del Sur – Hagonoy Mayor Jesus Dureza Jr. is optimistic that his town will emerge as a top chicken producer in the country by next year.
This came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led here Thursday the inauguration of the World-Class Controlled-Climate Magnolia Poultry Farm, the first to be completed out of the 12 planned poultry megafarm projects across the Philippines.
“Once it will be fully operational by next year, Hagonoy will be the biggest producer of chicken in the entire Philippines,” Dureza said in an interview.
A project of San Miguel Foods, Inc. (SMFI), the mega farm anticipates the production of 80 million birds or about 200 million kilos in live weight per farm to be harvested annually.
“Once there is a big business, it also entails job generation. They will be needing around 7,500 employees,” he said.
Dureza said he requested around 80 percent of the workforce will be sourced from their municipality.
“The managerial level will be from their company. The laborers will be coming here,” he added.
The state-of-the-art poultry farm is poised to revolutionize the industry with its advanced facilities and technologies.
The farm features environmental controls, biosecurity measures, modernized feeding and watering systems, efficient waste management, and a modern farm layout and house design, among others.
“The SMFI provides good compensation, benefits on education and health. I thank Mr. Ramon Ang for the project and rest assured that we along with the provincial government will support this,” Dureza said.
He added that SMFI also commits to protecting the environment once the project is operational.
In his speech, San Miguel Corporation president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang said the project reinforces their support for the Marcos administration in ensuring a food-secure Philippines.
“Our goal is to provide every Filipino with access to high-quality food at affordable prices. Compared to beef, pork, and even fish, chicken is the most cost-effective option and an excellent source of protein,” he said.
Ang said the project is just the start of their endeavor, as they are set to build 11 more similar facilities across the country to secure the needs of the growing population.
Using modern facilities and strict bio-security protocols, Ang said they raise their chickens in clean, natural conditions without chemicals or antibiotics, ensuring the highest quality for the consumers.
He also assured that the technology at the farm will sustainably produce more food —environmentally, economically, and socially. (PNA)
