SPDA eyes supplying Halal feeds to Arab region

SPDA Administrator Abdulghani Salapuddin says the Authority is eyeing to supply Halal feeds to Saudi Arabia through the Agro-Industrial Development Program.

AMAI MANABILANG, Lanao del Sur --The Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) is eyeing to supply Halal feeds to the Arab Gulf region through the newly launched Agro-Industrial Development Program (AIDP) for the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang.

SPDA Administrator Abdulghani Salapuddin said the country can generate so much in terms of foreign currency and employment if it can supply the Arab region with Halal feeds.

"Just imagine the Arab Gulf region, they have all the animals but they do not have grasses to feed the animals. They have to buy it from foreign countries like Brazil, Indonesia, and even Australia," he said noting the country's potential to supply such feeds.

Salapuddin emphasized that the shipment period from the said foreign countries would take more than 100 days but it would only take 90 days from the Philippines via the Cagayan de Oro seaport.

As such, the SPDA will venture into another project with Asia Pacific Precision Agriculture Group (ASPAC AG) to make corn silage that will be used as Halal feeds for animals in the Arab region starting with Saudi Arabia.

ASPAC-AG is an American company that undertakes modern, mechanized, precision agriculture technology. SPDA partnered with the company for the cultivation of corn and soybeans in Amai Manabilang under the AIDP.

As SPDA's commitment to the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act or AFMA, the AIDP was launched Tuesday, November 16, in Amai Manabilang to support the food self-sufficiency program of the government and boost the country's economy. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)

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Dar lauds SPDA for agro-industrial devt program

Agriculture Secretary William Dar lauded the Southern Philippines Development Authority for cementing a partnership with ASPAC AG, an American company that undertakes modern, mechanized, and precision agriculture technology.  (Micheal John Paclar / PIA Lanao del Sur)

AMAI MANABILANG, Lanao del Sur (PIA)-- Agriculture Secretary William Dar lauded the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) for undertaking a project anchored on developing the Agro-industrial Business Corridor (ABC).

Dar, who attended the launching of the Agro-Industrial Development Program (AIDP) for the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang on Tuesday, November 16, said DA is into developing ABCs and SPDA is doing it in advance. 

"We should be able to partner with you in this strategy so that others will learn and enhance the setting up of more ABCs in the rest of the country," he said. 

Dar emphasized that the strategy used by the AIDP is included in the pillars of transforming and modernizing the country's agriculture. 

He also congratulated SPDA for cementing a partnership with ASPAC-AG which will bring their precision agri-technology, capital, and market to the two municipalities. 

The DA chief further committed to support SPDA by linking it to the Land Bank and Development Bank of the Philippines for funding support.

He also pledged to turn over tractors to SPDA as he is optimistic that AIDP will become successful and will contribute to the transformation of the country's agriculture. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)

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Amai Manabilang town exec grateful for SPDA's enlivenment

Amai Manabilang Municipal Mayor Jamal Manabilang delivers his appreciation for the attention given to the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) and the programs under it. (PIA-Lanao del Sur)

AMAI MANABILANG, Lanao del Sur--With the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) enlivened after its vision and mission stalled for a moment, the local chief executive of the municipality here expressed his gratefulness for the initiative that brought back the authority. 

Municipal Mayor Jamal Manabilang stressed that past administrations had never given any attention to the SPDA, and it is only at this time when it is magnified and land property under it is looked after for development. 

"Ilang past administrations, hindi nila pinansin ang SPDA. Ilang taong patay ang lupa dahil hindi binibigyan pansin kaya ngayon, halos maiyak kami sa tuwa at saya dahil binigyan pansin ang SPDA," he said during the grand launching of the Agro-Industrial Development Program (AIDP) in his locality Tuesday, November 16. 

[Many past administrations, they did not give attention to the SPDA. The land has been dead for years because it was not given attention and now, we would like to cry in joy and happiness because the SPDA was given attention.] 

Manabilang also conveyed his gratitude to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for taking extra effort to pursue the favorable program. 

He further committed his full support believing that the SPDA's programs will not only benefit the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang all in the provinces of Lanao del Sur where its 26,000-hectare land property lies, but also the whole Bangsamoro region. 

"Taas noo naming ipinagmamalaki na dito sa bayan ng Amai Manabilang, 100% ang aming suporta dahil hindi na ito bago sa amin… May bago na namang dumating na project kung saan makikinabang hindi lang ang Amai Manabilang, hindi lang ang mamamayan ng Wao, kung hindi ang buong BARMM," said Manabilang. 

[It is with great pride that here in the town of Amai Manabilang, we commit our 100% support because this is not new to us. Another project  is here again that will benefit not only Amai Manabilang, not only the citizens of Wao but also the entire BARMM] 

Currently, the municipality of Amai Manabilang possesses hectares of banana and coffee plantations and sees to start its 5,000-hectare bamboo plantation next year. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)

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SPDA chief cites benefits of agro-industrial dev't project

SPDA administrator Abdulghani Salappudin underscores the employment opportunities and transfer of technology that the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang will get from the newly launched Agro-Industrial Development Program. (Micheal John Paclar / PIA Lanao del Sur)

AMAI MANABILANG, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The administrator and chief executive officer of the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) said the newly launched Agro-Industrial Development Program (AIDP) for the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang will bring a windfall of benefits to the two municipalities.

Administrator Abdulghani Salapuddin said the AIDP which brought in two international companies, the Asia Pacific Precision Agriculture Group (ASPAC AG) and the Kennemer Foods International, will generate employment for the local population and tax revenue for the local government.

"This will bring financial benefits to the two municipalities, and the province of Lanao del Sur, and the BARMM generally because ASPAC AG and Kennemer will be paying their local taxes," he said.

Local farmers, on the other hand, can learn the technology and plant the same crops that the company is producing and sell it to them.

"They don't have to worry about marketing their products kasi kahit gaano kalaki [no matter how big] the company has the capacity to absorb," he further said.

Salapuddin said the AIDP will also facilitate the transfer of modern agriculture technology and engineering.

According to him,  SPDA intends to establish an agriculture technology and training institute, and when this is completed, they will invite colleges and universities in Mindanao to have a tie-up program between SPDA and their College of Agriculture so their students can come, observe, learn and immerse themselves in the precision agriculture technology employed by both ASPAC AG and Kennemer Foods International.

"In that way, we instill in the minds of the youth that modern agriculture with the aid of modern technology and machine can make farming easier and convenient," he said.

With this, the SPDA administrator called on residents and the local governments involved to support the program by maintaining peace and order in their areas.

"Together let us make this happen. Pinaplano pa ito sa Luzon pero nagawa na natin. Ang mahalaga lang ay paano natin mapursige at masustain [This is still being planned in Luzon but we have already done it. All that matters is how we persevere and sustain]," he added. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)

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