Ayala grows corporate farming venture

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture is growing its corporate rice farming project (CRFP) with conglomerate Ayala Corp., this time for the rice supply requirements of the company’s high-end hotels in Palawan.

The CRFP is in line with the Ayala Group’s commitment to support the growth of agriculture in the country and help uplift the lives of farmers.

The DA, Ayala Multipurpose Cooperative (AMPC), Palawan ARC Cooperative Federation (Parcofed) and Ten Knots Development Corp. signed recently a rice supply agreement, the second under the CRFP.

Under the agreement, AMPC serves as conduit between farm service providers Parcofed in Narra, Palawan and the Ayala Group for Ten Knots Development Corp.’s rice requirements.

A subsidiary of Ayala Land Inc., Ten Knots is the owner and operator of the high-end El Nido Resorts in Lagen and Miniloc Islands in Palawan.

The initial agreement covers the supply of 120 bags to AMPC.

Last month, DA pilot tested its first CRFP with Ayala Corp. for the supply of rice to Seda Atria in Iloilo.

“We are pleased that starting from a small seed in Iloilo, we are now moving on towards a bigger group, a bigger engagement and partnership with the Department of Agriculture,” AMPC general manager Lourdes Orosa said.