Metro Pacific Agro Ventures Inc. (MPAV) is eyeing to be among the leaders in agribusiness and technological application in farming in the Philippines, with plans to establish more greenhouses.

On Tuesday, MPAV opened the Phase 1 of Metro Pacific Fresh Farms (MPFF), a 22-hectare vegetable greenhouse complex San Rafael, Bulacan, the largest of its kind in the country.

MPAV president and CEO Jovy Hernandez told reporters that the company is eyeing to establish at least two vegetable greenhouse satellites every year, delivering 10 facilities over the next five years.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) chairperson, president, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan led the ceremonial first harvest of fresh greens from the modern farm.

The first phase of MPFF is composed of six greenhouses covering 3.5 hectares of the property, which has the capacity to produce 500 metric tons of fresh vegetables annually.

Using nutrient film technique (NFT) greenhouse technology for leafy vegetables, MPFF can harvest 60,000 lettuce heads per month or 144 metric tons per year of fresh greens alone.

Harvest for its lettuce farm is every 27 days.

Aside from NFT, the farm also uses drip irrigation systems for non-leafy vegetables—all brought by its Israeli partner LR Group.

Hernandez emphasized that these technologies help the Bulacan greenhouse complex to produce quality vegetables year-round. Aside from leafy vegetables, the Bulacan greenhouse facility also produces melons and tomatoes, among others.

The company invested around P800 million for the MPFF Phase 1, Hernandez added. Pangilinan also directed MPAV to accelerate the expansion of MPFF to seven hectares.

MPAV is also looking into building greenhouse satellite in northern Luzon to grow strawberries.

A greenhouse satellite is at least within a hectare property.
MPAV chief commercial officer Toby Gatchalian said the company is working on its first greenhouse satellite this year, which could be opened next year.

“We’re actually looking at different localities which have a concentration of hotels, restaurants, and resorts. We are in discussion already with several entities for beach estate locations, but not just limited to tourist spots,” Gatchalian said.

MPAV is selling its farm produce as More Veggies Please in supermarkets in Metro Manila.

MPAV PHOTO