Philippines To Develop 2 Million Hectares Of Land, Create 2 Million Agricultural-Based Jobs

October 24, 2007 12:16 p.m. EST

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's program to develop two million hectares of land for agribusiness and create two million agri-based jobs by 2010 is on target, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Tuesday.

The status of the program was discussed during the joint meeting of the National Economic Development Authority-National Anti-Poverty Commission (NEDA-NACP) in Malaca?ang.

The development of two million hectares of agricultural land and the creation of an additional two million jobs in the agribusiness sector by 2010 top the President's 10-point agenda.

The DA said that as of last August, 777,869 hectares, or 39 percent of target area for agribusiness, were developed leading to the generation of some 1.195 million new jobs.

The report said 307,888 hectares, or 40 percent of the total area developed, were planted to coconut, while 37,480 hectares, or 5 percent, were allocated to biofuels.

Some 432,521 hectares, or 55 percent of the total land developed, were planted to other crops, the report said.

The DA said the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat, and Gen. Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN), topped the list of areas developed for agribusiness, with 107,389 hectares of the total hectarage already developed for agribusiness.

Under the Medium Term Philippines Development Plan (MTPDP), the country's development framework, the government will develop at least two million hectares of land for agribusiness.

In turn, the two million-hectare development program is envisioned to contribute two million out of the 10 million jobs to be created by 2010.