Marcos tours MPFF, highlights agri innovation

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the Metro Pacific Fresh Farms (MPFF), the country's largest greenhouse facility, in San Rafael, Bulacan on Wednesday, emphasizing his administration’s focus on agricultural innovation and food security.

Accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Marcos toured Phase 1 of MPFF which covers six greenhouses spanning 3.5 hectares, capable of producing up to 500 metric tons of vegetables annually using advanced technologies like nutrient film technique (NFT) and Israeli drip irrigation systems.

MPAV President Jovy I. Hernandez highlighted that the facility is nine times more productive than traditional farms and has generated 100 local jobs since opening in March, with plans for direct-to-consumer sales online and negotiations with supermarket chains to broaden its market reach.

Metro Pacific Agro Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, aims to build up to ten more greenhouse facilities across the country over the next few years, including sites in Cavite, Palawan, and Benguet, to stabilize vegetable supply and reduce input costs while sharing best practices with local farmers.

The visit underscores President Marcos’s commitment to modernizing agriculture through technology and private sector partnerships to ensure long-term food sustainability.