Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI) is set to develop a large-scale temporary papaya and pineapple plantation within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between DMPI and the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority to utilize a 226.4-hectare area within the estate, spanning the Municipalities of Tagoloan and Villanueva. Of the total area, 107.1 hectares will be allocated for papaya production, while 119.3 hectares will be planted with pineapples.
The plantation sites are located in Kirahon, Barangay San Martin in Villanueva, and in Sta. Cruz, Mohon, and Sta. Ana in Tagoloan. The pineapple varieties to be planted include Pineapple Sweet 16 and Clone 74, while the papaya plantation will help support DMPI’s fruit cocktail production.
Present during the contract signing for Del Monte Philippines were Chief Supply Chain Officer for Mindanao Operations Renaldo C. Doria, Senior Manager for Mindanao Legal and Compliance Marco T. Parpan, and Senior Manager for Land Asset Management Roberto D. Wapano. Representing the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority were Deputy Administrator for Operations Atty. Benjamen Medrano and PIA Administrator and CEO Atty. Joseph Donato Bernedo.
According to Bernedo, the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority decided to grant the use of this land for farming to generate government revenue, as these areas have long remained unused and have become sites for informal farming and illegal activities, yielding no income for the government.
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