Top Firms Pledge Php 3-B Investments for Sulu Development

Close to 20 top businesses have committed to invest Php3 billion in the development of Sulu province over the next few years, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said on Tuesday.

“This is remarkable. This is the first time actually in the peace effort of the government that the private sector participated,” he told reporters.

Piñol cited San Miguel Corp. President Ramon Ang, who has pledged to construct school buildings and a 50-megawatt coal-fired power plant over the next three years.

He said Ang also planned to start a poultry production project in Sulu wherein the conglomerate will process chicken into ready-to-eat food for export to nearby Sabah.

The agriculture chief said the group of tycoon Lucio Tan would also resume Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights to and from Sulu.

Likewise, businessman Manny Pangilinan committed to rehabilitate telecommunication facilities and provide hospital equipment.

The newly launched “Save Sulu project” aims to reduce poverty incidence in the island province of Sulu by 25 percent in three years. (PNA)RMA/LDV