Consunji Group to foray into agriculture

MANILA, Philippines — DMCI Holdings chairman, president and CEO Isidro Consunji is looking forward to a “second career” as the Consunji Group plans to venture into agriculture.

Consunji is this year’s Management Man of the Year and was bestowed the award in a ceremony yesterday led by MAP president Rogelio Singson.

In his acceptance speech, Consunji said his story is not yet done and that it has “enough gas in the tank to start a second career.”

“With more idle time, I hope to foray into agriculture and create sustainable value in the countryside,” Consunji said.

Asked to expound on his plans, Consunji said that the plan includes the sale of palm oil and carbon credits.  He is looking at thousands of hectares of land in Visayas and Mindanao.

His group is already in talks with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the project.

Asked if the agriculture business would be folded into DMCI Holdings, he said nothing is final yet and it would depend on the other Consunji family members, which own the land.

In his speech, Consunji shared the ups and downs of the DMCI conglomerate including the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

“Today, the DMCI group has a total workforce of over 35,000. We have engineers and foremen who have been with us for more than 20, 30 years. Some of their children have even found employment in our companies.

“Our business portfolio currently includes energy, real estate, mining, and water distribution—all of which draw from our engineering and construction background.

“I must admit that luck played a big role in our expansion. In certain cases, we were delivered from failure and financial ruin by commodity rallies, financial downturns, and wise advice from good friends. It also took us decades to get to this point. And the process—while fulfilling—was many times daunting, painful, and draining,” he said.

The “MAP Management Man of the Year” is an award that the MAP confers on individuals in business or government, whether a member of the MAP or not, who have attained unquestioned distinction in the practice of management, and have made valuable contributions to the progress of the country and in re-shaping national values.

It is bestowed on exceptional persons who have posted a record of achievement and distinction as leaders and managers of organizations, and who are exemplary models who deserve to be emulated by their peers and by the younger leaders and managers, the MAP said.

The criteria for the award include integrity, leadership, and management qualities; contribution to nation-building and values formation; effective stewardship within the confines of the highest standard of business and management practice; among others.

Consunji was cited, among others, for “his expertise in turning problematic assets and distressed companies under seemingly insurmountable situations into very productive investments.”