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The Mindanao Business Council yesterday hailed the
scheduled start of operations of the San Miguel Foods Inc.’s
agro-industrial complex in Sumilao, Bukidnon saying this will signal
the end of the lukewarm attitude by big-time investors to funnel
their resources to the countryside. The SMFI agro-industrial complex
will begin operations in a few weeks.
Speaking through its chairman Mr.
Vicente Lao, the Mindanao Business Council expressed optimism that
other big-time industry players would follow the lead of SMFI and
establish their own operations in the rural areas to decongest the
urban centers and spread the blessings of modern business among the
provincial folk specially those living and working in the farms.
Mr. Lao said the P2.4 billion
which SMFI is sinking in its Sumilao project is a huge investment by
any standard and “it cannot but create a tremendous impact upon
the lives of the farmers and all the citizens of Sumilao.”
“I understand that the SMFI
project would create job opportunities for no less than 2,400
workers, pay the town P98 million in taxes, raise the prevailing
price of P3.00 per kilo of corn, the town’s principal product, to
P10 per kilo, these are literally bonanzas for Sumilao which I hope
would not be lost to our policy makers, “ Lao said.
Informed that there is agitation
to get back from SMFI the land where the agro-industrial complex
stands and give it to 55 farmers, Mr. Lao said he preferred not to
comment on the matter which could involve legal issues and other
implications.
“But I certainly hope that
whatever conflict there may be concerning the correct use of the
land, rationality would prevail in resolving the conflict. It does
look to me though that dismantling all those facilities that SMFI
has put up in such a big waste. In any case, SMFI has the total
support of MBC in its investment thrust to the countryside,
concretized by its Sumilao agro-industrial project.” Lao declared.
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