BOI grants green lane status to Metro Pacific vegetable, dairy farm projects

The Board of Investments (BOI) has granted green lane status to Metro Pacific's vegetable and dairy farm projects that have been identified and designated as strategic investments with positive impact to the country's development and the environment.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BOI said its One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI) gave Green Lane Certificates of Endorsement to two projects of Metro Pacific with a total cost of P3.4 billion.

The projects are a vegetable farm project located in Bulacan, and a dairy farm project situated in Laguna.

The green lane endorsement was awarded to Metro Pacific Fresh Farms Inc. (MPFF) and Metro Pacific Dairy Farms Inc. (MPDF) on Nov. 30, 2023.

Obtaining green lane status expedites permit and license issuance, including resolving strategic investment issues.

Last February, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 18 mandated the creation of green lanes as part of efforts for ease of doing business and promoting strategic investments.

Strategic investments are those which are aligned with the Philippine Development Plan or any similar national development plan and can be characterized by the significant capital or investment to the country; consequential economic impact; positive impact on the environment; significant contribution to the country's balance of payments; with complex technical processes and engineering designs; and will improve the country's infrastructure capabilities.

The BOI said MPFF's Metro Manila Greenhouse Vegetable Production Project will be a state-of-the-art complex of modern greenhouses.

The project aims to promote sustainable farming practices and modern farming technology. It is the largest vegetable greenhouse facility in the Philippines, located in San Rafael, Bulacan.

The farm is expected to start commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2024, producing high-quality vegetables.

Meanwhile, MPDF's Integrated Dairy Farm Project will manufacture dairy products at a capacity of 30,000 liters per day.

The project expands local milk production capacity by 20%, which currently stands at 26.3 million liters.

The project is set to begin its commercial operations in the first quarter of 2025 in Bay, Laguna.

Its main objective is to replace imported milk with locally produced high-quality dairy products, which will help boost the country's self-sufficiency.

This initiative will address food security and value chain gaps by offering premium locally produced products, demonstrating a shift towards efficient local substitutes. — VDV, GMA Integrated News