PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration and turnover of the P278.3-million grains terminal and trading station in Batangas City, a key development aimed at consolidating the supply of corn to help reduce the cost of animal feeds and, in turn, lower the prices of poultry and livestock products within the Southern Tagalog Region.
The budget for the grains terminal project includes the P178.3M cash and in-kind counterpart provided by the SIDC.
The project, funded by a loan from the World Bank with counterpart funding from the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC), enhances the existing feed mill of SIDC by integrating a silo operation with a capacity of 12,000 metric tons. The facility, which began construction on June 17 of last year, is expected to significantly impact the agricultural sector.
This new grains terminal is set to become a central hub for the yellow corn used predominantly in the production of animal feeds. With the ability to scale up national corn production, the project is poised to temper rising input costs, benefiting hog and poultry farmers as well as corn producers. In total, it is estimated that 567 yellow corn farmers, hog raisers, and poultry farmers will directly benefit from the project.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. praised the project’s collaborative efforts, emphasizing its potential to create meaningful change for agriculture and rural communities.
“This project, backed by the World Bank and initiated by SIDC, is a testament to what we can achieve for our farmers and fishers when we collaborate and cooperate. This new grains terminal and trading hub will not only put more money in our farmers’ pockets but will lower the cost of producing poultry and hogs, helping ensure a stable supply and affordable food prices for many Filipino consumers,” he said.
SIDC, a key partner in the project, anticipates that the facility will meet the growing demand for yellow corn in animal feed production. Batangas province, a major producer of swine, poultry, and eggs, stands to benefit greatly from the terminal’s capacity to streamline corn distribution, further strengthening its role in the nation’s agricultural economy.
This project marks a significant step toward improving food security and agricultural sustainability in the country, demonstrating the importance of public-private partnerships in driving growth within the agricultural sector.
About the Author
