Cadiz City in Negros Occidental is eyeing more investments for its agriculture sector as it aims to become a major farming and fishery hub in the country.
“Its (Cadiz) agricultural land is ready for investment. In support, the city invested in the concreting of roads starting two to three years ago. These are part of the support programs and projects introduced by the city for investors who want to come here,” said Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr.
He said private groups are targeting to plant 1.2 million coffee and coconut trees on 1,500 hectares of land, with an initial 100,000 trees already planted on almost 100 hectares.
“This is a big thing for reforestation of mountains, not just using lumber, but fruit-bearing trees,” Escalante added.
Cadiz has 54,000 hectares of land and can open up its marginal lands to become productive.
Escalante said a feed mill producer has also expressed interest in building a plant in Cadiz considering that the city and its neighboring areas have substantial chicken and cattle production.
“Cadiz is an open city for business. We are demonstrating a capacity to provide ease in doing business,” he added.
The city is also positioning as a major agricultural hub that can supply farm and fishery goods to Metro Manila through the connection between the ports of Cadiz and Batangas.
Escalante Jr. said this is envisioned by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for Cadiz and the adjacent localities in the second district, including Sagay City and Manapla town.
“He (Laurel) envisions our city and the neighboring towns and cities to be a potential agriculture hub for Metro Manila, using our Cadiz port and the port of Batangas as the conduit ports. The goods here will be brought to Batangas, from Batangas to Metro Manila,” the mayor said in an interview.
Farm produce such as sugar and other agricultural products came from the northern part of the province, while farm inputs and machinery entered the province through the Cadiz port.
Escalante said there are plans to expand or further develop the Cadiz City Commercial Port.
“We are working on it. We hope within the year, we can start if not early next year,” he added.