$1.03-billion aqua farm to rise in Baliuag

BALIUAG, Bulacan — A $1.03-billion modernized aquaculture farm funded by Korean investors is set to rise in a 51-hectare land in Barangay Pagala located on the northwestern part of this town.

Based on documents obtained by The STAR, the investment will come in three phases as the Korean investors represented by Isla Maharlika Development Corp. (IMDC) will construct a campus-like facility of the Green Aqua Farm project.

The facilities of the Green Aqua Farm Project will have state-of-the-art facilities for breeding, farming and culture of tropical fishes, mollusks, shell fish, crustaceans, and lobsters, which will be primarily sold to the export market.

The major components of the project includes the construction of the 20-story cooperate building, a twin 20-story employee and workers building, 30 seven-story building for aquaculture production, thirteen 20-story buildings for agriculture production using hydroponics, a facility and maintenance building, a feed mill, a water treatment facility and a power generating plant.

Documents showed that the corporate building will have a total floor area of 15,370 square meters, two basement levels for parking, and a ground floor that will be used as corporate office and showroom. The second up to the 14th floor will be used as residential units, the 15th to 17th floors will house the executive residential suites, and the rest will be utilized for penthouse, view decks and helipads.

The aquaculture building was designed to have offices and cold storage facilities on its ground floor, while the second to the sixth floor will be used for fishpond and aquaculture production.

Meanwhile, the 13 seven-storey agriculture building will have hydroponics planters and troughs.

Lawyer Enrique dela Cruz, a municipal councilor, told The STAR that they are still studying the project proposal.

However, he also said that the initial phase of the project, which will cost $300 million, will generate thousands of employment and additional revenues for the municipal government projected to reach at least P25 million.

Meanwhile, other residents privy to the project describe it as one single mammoth project for aquaculture and agriculture.

They said the construction of the facilities alone in the 51-hectare proposed site in Barangay Pagala would mean livelihood to literally thousands of blue collar workers in Baliuag and neighboring towns.