THE Board of Investments (BoI) approved the application for registration of Agro Azienda, Inc. as a new producer of broiler chicken in Maragondon, Cavite worth P195.5 million.

The BoI said in a statement on Wednesday that the broiler chicken producer is expected to begin commercial operations in May 2022, and is listed under the agriculture, fishery and forestry sector of the 2020 Investment Priorities Plan as the transitional Strategic Investment Priority Plan of Republic Act No. 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act.

“Broiler farming is the process wherein broiler chickens are reared and prepared for meat processing and/or final consumption,” it said.

The BoI said the project involves the commercial production of broiler chicken on a contract growing scheme with a local company, and will serve as an essential support to the meat processing industry.

“The firm has a capacity of 2,310,000 birds per year, and has acquired brand new equipment to be installed in the facility. The firm will employ 10 direct workers. The potential direct employment to be generated by the firm based on the employment multiplier is estimated at 109 workers,” it said.

“The firm also built fly management control system including tunnel vent building design, dry manure, and insecticide fly trap,” it added.

According to the BoI, the project will help in achieving one of the targets under the updated 2017-2022 Philippines Development Plan (PDP) which is to improve chicken production volume to 1.96 million metric tons (MT) by 2022.

“The entry of the project can supply 3,696 MT of chicken accounting for 0.19% and 0.20% of the PDP target and the BoI production forecast for 2022, respectively,” the BoI said.

Further, the BoI said Agro Azienda plans to have measure that will reduce the effects of natural calamities to the project, while in-house health and safety protocols will be strictly enforced to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“The project will shore up the Department of Agriculture’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program with two components, namely: Integrated Livestock and Corn Resiliency Project and the Expanded Small Ruminants and Poultry Project to ensure the uptick in the production of meat, chicken and eggs and manage the impact of the present global health crisis in domestic food supply,” the BoI said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave