Marcos discusses food security at poultry farm opening in Davao del Sur

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of San Miguel Foods’ Magnolia Poultry Farm in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur on Thursday, October 12, 2023. He is shaking hands with San Miguel Food and Beverage President and CEO Ramon Ang. (Picture screen grabbed from RTVM)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the inauguration of San Miguel Foods’ Magnolia Poultry Farm in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.

In a speech, the President said the facility is part of national government’s move towards the industrialization of agriculture to address food security.

“This facility is just the first of the 11 planned provincial locations nationwide under the San Miguel Foods Poultry Megafarm Project,” he began.

“Once realized, this will ensure a more stable, sufficient, and cost-competitive supply of chicken, as well as bolster the food and nutritional needs of our people,” said the Chief Executive.

The poultry facility is expected to house 28 climate-controlled farm houses and produce a total of 80 million chickens annually.

Marcos said the venture sends a message to both local and international investors that Philippines is capable of applying advanced industrial forms of agriculture.

“We also have to explain to our people that this is the way forward. This is the way of the future,” the President said.

“It is something that it is not ‘Sasabihin natin masyadong mahirap ‘yan. Doon lang sa abroad ‘yan’ (We’ll say that it’s too difficult. It can only be done abroad),” said Marcos

“This [facility] goes to show that that’s not necessarily the case,” he noted.

“We can definitely do anything that they do abroad. Anything that we can see that is advantageous to the food supply — we can adopt it here and adjust it to Philippine conditions,” he pointed out.

Marcos further said such progress does not come at the expense of small backyard poultry farmers.

He explained the new farm will produce chickens that are already processed.

“Iba ang merkado nito, dahil ang lalabas dito, hindi dadalhin sa palengke dahil naka-process na,” he said.

(Its market is different because what will come out here won’t be taken to the markets because it has been processed.)

“Dressed na. Frozen na, kaya hindi masasagasaan ang mga small producers,” he added.

(Already dressed. Already frozen, so the small producers will not be run over.)

“That is the balance we are trying to achieve. This kind of facility goes a long way in achieving that,” he stressed.

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