A business unit of the Alcantara-led Alsons Consolidated Resources is seeking to convert a 50-hectare land in General Santos City into an economic zone in a bid to spur the country’s banana and pineapple export industry.
“The proposed agro-industrial economic zone currently houses the box packaging facility of fresh pineapples and bananas, which are predominantly for export,” the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said in a statement.
READ: Alsons posts 32% increase in 9-month net earnings
According to the investment promotion agency, Alsons Group is the fourth largest producer of fresh pineapples in the country. The company, Peza said, is also the most productive pineapple grower in the country in terms of yield per hectare, with an output of 6,000 boxes of pineapples per hectare.
The area that it seeks to turn into an ecozone is just a small portion of a 1,000-ha pineapple and banana plantation in Barangay Apopong, General Santos City, in the province of Sarangani.
‘Fueling development’
An agro-industrial park is an ecozone with a mix of agricultural and industrial activities, such as processing and packaging of agricultural goods. As an exporter, the ecozone will enjoy various fiscal incentives, including income tax holiday for four years up to seven years. It will also enjoy a special corporate income tax rate of 5 percent or enhanced deductions for 10 years.
“As a growth driver of business and industries, Alsons Group plays a key role in fueling the development, particularly of Mindanao, through its strategic investments in industrial parks and real estate development, agri- and aqua-business, power generation and mining,” the Peza said.
READ: PH pineapple exports up 5% in 2023
Aside from this planned investment venture, the company is also applying for an expansion of the Kamanga Agro-Industrial Ecozone (KAIEZ), a 91.7-ha industrial park in Barangay Kamanga, Maasim, in the same province. The ecozone was developed through the business unit Kamanga Agro-Industrial Development Corporation.
The Peza said the firm has applied to include an additional 32.8 hectares into KAIEZ. It said Alsons is now just waiting for a proclamation from the Office of the President.
Peza oversees more than 420 ecozones across the country, majority of which are located in Luzon.