Thai Agri-Foods Public Company Limited (TAF-PLC) from Thailand plans to set up a manufacturing facility that produces frozen coconut meat and coconut milk for 100% export at the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Agro-Industrial Complex (PAIC) located at Barangay Irasan, Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.
This was revealed by TAF-PLC Project Manager, Mr. Buncha Punyatanakom, who together with its President Mr. Sackchai Wongmalasith, TAF-PLC President and Business Development Manager Ms. Sakaoduan Amompura, met with Ms. Lennie Castañeda, representing Governor Rosalina “Nanay Nene” Jalosjos, PPDO OIC, Ms. Augee L.Velasco, DTI-Zamboanga del Norte led by Provincial Director Ms. Estrella Roda, ug Philippine Coconut Authority-Zamboanga del Norte, led by Senior Agriculturist Mr. Antonio C. Soria Jr., Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Ms. Amy Bergado and Board Member Atty. Jasmin Pinsoy-Lagutin of the Second District of Zamboanga del Norte.
According to Mr. Punyatanakom, TAF-PLC need 2 to 3 hectares for the facility and more or less 1,300 local workers for its initial operation and 600 matured coconut fruits for its daily production. Mr.Soria said Zamboanga del Norte was chosen as its possible manufacturing since it’s the no. 2 coconut producing province in the Philippines, next Quezon province. Soria further disclosed that Zamboanga del Norte has an annual coconut production of 1.3 billion fruits.
With its economic impact in Zamboanga del Norte, all provincial government officials representing Governor Jalosjos and national government agencies based in the province, lauded the Thai Company for choosing Zamboanga del Norte for its plan and assured the provincial government’s all-support to the said expansion program and promised to extend all technical assistance needed by TAF-PLC. During its site ocular inspection, water samples were taken for laboratory examinations to ensure its potability, considering that water is one of the most important components of its food production.(Angelica T. Obina)
SOURCE: PIC-ATRuda