President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the inauguration of the Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC) Grains Terminal and Trading Project in Batangas City.

In a keynote speech, Marcos said the new feed mill facility, which has two silos with a total capacity of 12,000 metric tons of corn, can produce around 480,000 sacks of feed for over 100,000 pigs or almost 600,000 chickens.

“Sa pamamagitan nito, mas magiging maayos ang pag-iimbak ng ating mais. Mas magiging matibay ang ating suporta sa industriya ng poultry at saka ng livestock (Through this, our corn storage will be better. Our support for the poultry and livestock industries will be stronger),” Marcos said.

“At higit sa lahat, magkakaroon ng katiyakan ng kita ang ating mga magsasaka at ang ating mga negosyante, hindi lamang dito sa Batangas, kundi sa buong Calabarzon (And above all, our farmers and our businessmen will have income security, not only here in Batangas, but throughout Calabarzon),” he added.

Marcos said the inauguration of the feed mill facility is a testament that cooperatives like SIDC can compete with large businesses and build large facilities.

“I extend my own personal congratulations being a great supporter of the cooperative movement. SIDC is one of our models at examples of how a cooperative should be run, how a cooperative helps its members, and how a cooperative helps the industry,” he said.

The SIDC, one of the largest agri-based cooperatives in the Philippines, continues to empower farmers and cooperative members since its inception in 1969.

It is expanding its initiatives to improve market access, enhance production quality and ensure sustainable livelihood for its members.

The newly inaugurated grains terminal and trading project further strengthens the SIDC’s role in the agricultural supply chain.

In 2021, the SIDC also inaugurated a state-of-the-art rice mill, with a five ton-per-hour capacity to process rice for its farming members. (PNA)