THE AYALA GROUP will buy fresh vegetables from a cooperative in El Nido, Palawan with a view towards possibly supplying its resort network in northern Palawan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.
The DA, in a statement, identified the cooperative as Asosasyon ng mga Mangingisda at Magsasaka ng Munisipyo ng El Nido, Palawan, Inc. (AMMMEPI) with the partnership also aiming to revive the agriculture industry in El Nido.
The vegetables covered by the deal are bitter gourd (ampalaya), squash, okra, eggplant and string beans.
The Ayala Multi-purpose Cooperative (AMPC) also lent P250,000 in working capital at a 1% interest rate, payable quarterly over two years.
“Very soon the farmers’ co-op might supply vegetables to the Ayala hotels and resorts if the vegetables meet quality standards,” Lourdes B. Orosa, General Manager of AMPC, was quoted as saying in the DA statement.
Ayala Land Inc. unit El Nido Resorts group manages properties in northern Palawan include locations in El Nido and Taytay municipalities. The Ayala Land website lists the properties as Miniloc Island Resort, Lagen Island Resort and the newly-opened Pangulasian Island Resort in El Nido, and Apulit Island Resort in Taytay.
The DA said its local office assisted the co-op in organizing a harvest festival for Ayala Group under the department’s High-Value Crops Development Program. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
