SAN PABLO, Laguna — The poultry industry received another investment boost with the inauguration of Art Fresh Chicken Corp.’s new dressing, processing, and warehousing facility in this city south of Manila.
The poultry facility expands the industry’s processing capacity while reinforcing efforts to strengthen food security and modernize the country’s poultry value chain.
The new facility can process more than 14 metric tons of chicken and is expected to generate around 400 jobs, creating opportunities not only within the plant but also for poultry growers, transport providers, logistics firms, and other businesses supporting the supply chain.
Its opening comes as the government encourages greater private-sector investment to improve food production, enhance processing efficiency, and reduce post-harvest losses amid rising demand for affordable animal protein.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the facility represents more than an expansion of processing capacity.
“This investment strengthens our food security by ensuring a more efficient and reliable poultry supply chain while creating quality jobs and opening new opportunities for farmers, suppliers, and local businesses,” said Tiu Laurel during the inauguration of the facility.
“More importantly, it sends a strong signal that the Philippines remains an attractive destination for agribusiness investments that generate lasting economic benefits,” he said.
The agriculture chief noted that every new processing facility creates ripple effects across the industry, raising food safety standards, improving operational efficiency, and expanding market opportunities for poultry producers.
Beyond processing, the facility integrates dressing, further processing, and warehousing operations, allowing products to move more efficiently from farms to consumers while supporting stricter quality control and cold-chain management.
The investment also underscores the growing role of value-added food manufacturing in Philippine agriculture. As consumer demand shifts toward processed and ready-to-cook products, companies are increasingly investing in modern facilities that enhance productivity while extending product shelf life and reducing supply chain bottlenecks.
Tiu Laurel emphasized that sustaining growth in agriculture requires strong collaboration between government and the private sector, with investments in modern infrastructure complementing ongoing efforts to improve animal health, biosecurity, logistics, and farm productivity.
The new Laguna facility highlights a broader trend of capacity expansion driven by rising domestic poultry consumption and the need for more resilient food supply chains.
As agribusiness firms continue investing in modern processing infrastructure, the sector stands to benefit from stronger farmer linkages, greater employment, improved food safety, and increased investor confidence, reinforcing poultry’s role as one of the country’s fastest-growing agricultural industries.
