Metro Pacific Agro Ventures, Inc. announced plans to construct a new dairy processing plant on its farm in Bay, Laguna, with completion targeted for mid‑year next year.
The facility will employ extended shelf life (ESL) processing technology, aiming to increase the shelf life of fresh milk from the current 12 days to a range of 30 to 45 days, thereby enhancing distribution capabilities while preserving product freshness.
Company President and Chief Executive Officer Juan Victor I. Hernandez indicated that the extended shelf life could represent a significant shift in the company's milk distribution strategy.
In parallel, the second phase of Metro Pacific Fresh Farms in San Rafael, Bulacan is scheduled to become operational next month, doubling the farm’s cultivated area to seven hectares.
The expansion will raise production capacity for Japanese melons, capsicum peppers, and lettuce, building on the first phase of the 22‑hectare greenhouse complex, which opened in 2025 and initially covered 3.5 hectares.
Further growth plans include a one‑hectare greenhouse project in El Nido, Palawan, intended to supply nearby resorts, and a strawberry farm in Benguet spanning two to four hectares with potential expansion to eight hectares.
Metro Pacific Agro Ventures’ portfolio encompasses fresh milk and artisan ice cream under the Carmen’s Best brand, a range of fresh produce, and coconut products managed through subsidiaries such as Axelum Resources Corp. and Franklin Baker.
The parent company, Metro Pacific Investments Corp., operates as one of the three principal Philippine units of Hong Kong‑based First Pacific Co., alongside a mining corporation and a telecommunications firm.
