Two foreign-owned firms to scout fruit farms in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Provincial Board Member Dante R. Manalaysay of the second district has appreciated the reported plan of two foreign –owned corporations to put up banana and pineapple plantations in Bataan.

Board Member Manalaysay ,vice chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP)committees on Infrastructure, Housing and Land Utilization  said that top management officials of the multi-national corporations are scouting for feasible sites in upland villages of Bagac and Balanga City.

A group of local real estate brokers and property management developers is negotiating with several landowners for the acquisition of 800 hectares for a banana plantation project and 1,000 hectares for pineapple and tomato farm purposely intended for expansion of foreign and local markets.

Manalaysay stressed the new agricultural development perspective is an offshoot of the increasing population and influx of factory workers as the province is hosting several industries and companies that produce diverse products such as petroleum, petrochemicals, plastics, fiber glass, sportswear, handbags and its accessories, footwear, electronics accessories, soya oil, tennis balls, newsprint and toiletries, ammunition and other highly-exportable products.

Describing Bataan as one of the most progressive provinces in Central Luzon and in the Manila Bay periphery, Manalaysay believes that the province plays a significant role because it is strategically located in the middle of the country’s growth triad corridor of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Freeport Area of Bataan, Clark Special Economic Zone and Metro Manila.

The improvement and conversion of underutilized tracks of land particularly in the upland sector of the province into a modern farming community would create more jobs, revenues for the residents and local government units.

The latest investment scheme would enhance food security and crop production as well as driving forward economic and social progress with the entry of improved technology, business environment in the historic peninsula, Manalaysay added.