• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
After giving up two power-related investments in San Carlos City, San Miguel Corporation is again looking into Negros Occidental as among the areas in the country to invest in P21-billion feed mill and poultry related projects, disclosed Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday.
This development came after Negros Occidental 1st District Rep. Gerardo Valmayor had a meeting with SMC Chief Executive Officer and President Ramon Ang during a Christmas party of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, where he asked what the company can do for the province, Lacson said.
Ang, the president and CEO of San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. (SMFB) told Valmayor “do you want a feed mill?” and the solon replied in affirmative, according to the governor.
Valmayor yesterday accompanied SMC officials, who paid a courtesy visit to Lacson at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.
While still in the preliminary stage, Lacson said they provided SMC with certain data they need for the project, should they decide to invest in Negros Occidental.
But, of course, we have to convince them that our province is right place for that, he stressed.
They are looking and moving around, Lacson said, apparently referring to SMC, as he also thanked Valmayor for facilitating and bringing more investments to Negros Occidental.
SMC did not push through its coal fired and its liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, which was met with vehement opposition from San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza and environmentalist groups.
Diversified conglomerate SMC, through its food and beverage unit, plans to build 12 poultry mega-plants nationwide, with each facility able to produce 80 million birds per year, disclosed Ang in previous months.
SMFB is the food and beverage arm of SMC.*
