To boost food production and generate more jobs under the Marcos administration, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has fast-tracked the approval of 31 strategic projects worth PhP18.7 billion through the issuance of “green lane” certifications, a Palace official said Friday.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire said these projects are expected to produce 7,000 new jobs for Filipinos.
“Mas maraming trabaho, parating na para sa mga Pilipino… Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na palakasin ang local production at magbukas ng hanapbuhay sa bansa,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
The DTI’s Board of Investments granted the certifications to facilitate the expedited processing of permits and licenses from national agencies and local government units, in line with the administration’s push for economic growth and ease of doing business.
Castro said the 31 food security projects span a wide range of sectors, including pig production facilities, feed mill, cold storage unit, greenhouse vegetable farm, dairy farm, and wean-to-finish livestock farm.
Among the most notable certified projects is a large-scale coconut processing facility projected to generate 4,725 jobs, as well as a set of breeder farms that will employ over 1,000 Filipinos.
Castro said that to date, 17 of these projects are in the pre-development stage, seven are under construction, six are already operational, and one is in the pre-operational phase.
Since its launch in February 2023, the DTI has granted green lane certification to 222 projects, amounting to a total investment of PhP5.75 trillion, which is expected to generate 319,000 jobs nationwide.
The Green Lane for Strategic Investments is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 and the President’s socioeconomic agenda, aiming to make the country an investment destination while empowering local communities. | PND
