Press Release
February 3, 2008

ANGARA URGES INVESTORS TO SUPPORT CORE AGRI, FORESTRY AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN AURORA

To address competition in the global market, Senator Edgardo J. Angara today called on both foreign and domestic investors to support key development projects in Aurora at the Aurora Investment Summit in Hotel Stotsenbeg, Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City.

"We must not put to waste the vast investment potentials of Aurora. With the right blend of investments pouring in, Aurora will definitely give a boost to our local economy," said Senator Angara, who also chairs Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

With agriculture as its primary industry, Aurora has now been equipped with state-of-the-art harvest facilities through the establishment of the Integrated Rice Processing and Milling Complex.

With the help of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Complex shall serve as a one-stop service center equipped with modern harvest and rice milling facilities which will provide farmers with training and technical support on mechanized rice production strategies to further increase their yield and productivity.

Being one of the top producers of coffee beans in the country, Aurora will also have a

Coffee Research and Development Center in the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) and a Coffee Nursery, which will help increase the production of quality coffee beans to respond to the increasing demand of the local and international market.

In coordination with the Department of Energy, the province will be able to provide electricity to 13 sitios in upland Barangays Dianawan, Decoliat, Galintuja and San Juan through mini-hydro power projects, tapping waterfalls as its source of energy.

To sustain environmental quality in the province, the Aurora Integrated Protected Landscape and Coastal Resources Management and Conservation Program will be created under its Forest Resources Development Strategy, with the assistance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The goal is to declare a part of the forestland into a permanent forest development corridor, thereby securing it against future land conversion activities, and at the same time providing livelihood to our local communities.

"By setting aside parts of the forestland suited for development into forestry investment areas, and strictly protecting critical watersheds and old growth forests, we will ensure the productivity of our forests for years to come," said Senator Angara.

In addition, a Marine Research and Breeding Center will be set up in Baler to improve existing fishing technologies and help maximize the industry's potentials. It will conduct research and experimentation on the culture and propagation of native marine species, as well as breed spawners and fingerlings.

The Marine Research Station was created by Republic Act 9441 recently authored and sponsored by Representative Juan Edgardo Angara.

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