Yap guest speaker at 1st bio-ethanol plant launch

Ormoc City – Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap, was the guest during the formal opening of the first ever bio-ethanol manufacturing plant in the country of the Leyte Agri Corp., in Barangay Ipil here yesterday.

The Leyte Agri Corp. is an offshoot of TAO Corp.’s diversification from its molasses and alcohol trading business. The subsidiary, established in 2001, is primarily engaged in the manufacture of food-grade (beverage and industrial) alcohol. Its distillery in the city ably contributes to the economic development of both the community, the local, and the national government. It has a total of 85 employees.

The Leyte Agri Corp. has an annual capacity of eight million liters of food grade alcohol, that has also consistently met expectations of its customers and partners. The Leyte Agri Corp., is likewise producing Liquid Carbon Dioxide (LCO2) for the local industrial market. The LCO2 recovery plant in the city is a proof of the company’s deep commitment for a safer environment according to the staff. At the plant level, the chief operating officer and the plant manager work closely with the Multi-Partite Environment Monitoring Team consisting of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, several non-government organizations concerned in environment protection, the local government unit, and the sectors from the church and academe, to assess the company’s performance on environmental safety and protection.

The distillery’s reputation is further strengthened by providing support to higher education benefiting scholars from the Ipil National High School who have completed and obtained their college degrees. Moreover, Leyte helped develop and maintain the computer laboratory being utilized by students under the school’s computer literacy program and the “Adopt a School Program” in nearby communities. – Roberto Dejon