LUCENA CITY—One of the largest and most diversified corporations in the country has proposed several big-ticket development projects in Quezon province, particularly in the municipalities of Pagbilao and Sariaya.
Ramon Ang, president and COO of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), has written Gov. David Suarez with the list of projects and requested the latter to facilitate the favorable endorsement and approval by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
The proposed projects to be established in Pagbilao are the cement plant with Co-gen plant, up to 1.200 megawatts CFB power plant (clean coal technology), deep sea port, all with the proposed location in Barangay Ibabang Polo; dressing plant, slaughterhouse, ready-to-eat (RTE) plant to be located in Barangay Ilayang Palsabangon; logistics center and quarry to be located in Barangay Ilayang or Ibabang Palsabangon and Barangay Ilayang Bagumbungan.
Those to be set up in Sariaya are a tank farm, brewery, feedmill and cement grinding plant, pier and port facilities all proposed to be located in Barangay Castañas or Barangay San Roque Guisguis.
There will also be a proposed access road, and site development and relocation/resettlement sites for target areas in both towns.
The SP on December 17 approved Resolution 2018-847 “expressing the full support of the provincial government of Quezon by approving the list of proposed projects of SMC in the province and interposing no objection to its implementation and operation.”
The resolution was certified as true and correct by SP Secretary Francis Xavier Sia, attested to be duly adopted by Vice Governor and SP presiding officer Samuel Nantes, and approved and signed by Suarez.
The move was initiated by SP member Ferdinand Talabong and unanimously seconded by his colleagues. The resolution said “the establishment and development of various industries and businesses will provide employment and additional revenue that would accelerate and ensure the growth of the province and directly benefit the people of Quezon.”
The joint committees on Laws, Rules and Regulation and Ways and Means both chaired by Talabong and board member Isaias Ubana II have recommended to the SP to approve the SMC projects in Pagbilao and Sariaya. Other members of the joint committees who signed the recommendation included board members Donaldo Suarez, Vincent Dominic Reyes, Claro Talaga Jr. and Raquel Mendoza.
On Nov. 19 last year, Suarez wrote to the SP members through the SP presiding officer to request for the passage of a resolution, certified as “urgent” which approves the list of SMC projects.