MAKILALA, COTABATO—The Province of Cotabato is emerging as a promising investment hub in Mindanao, with the opening of Alpha-3 Chicken Dressing Services Corp.’s semi-automated poultry dressing plant in Barangay Saguing, Makilala.

On 8 September 2025, Cotabato Vice Governor Rochella Marie “Ella” Taliño Taray personally visited and inspected the said facility, which began operations in August 2025 and is quickly positioning itself as a key player in Cotabato’s agro-industrial development.

Owned and managed by Ms. Bonilyn Espina-Duque (President) and Mr. Aries Christe Aaron Duque (Plant Manager), the dressing plant currently operates at a capacity of 25,000 heads per 12-hour shift and employs 150 local workers. During their meeting with the Vice Governor, the owners shared that they plan to expand into a two-shift operation, with a capacity of 50,000 heads and an estimated workforce of 250-300 employees.

In response, Vice Governor Taray encouraged them to consider expanding at Cotabato Agro-Industrial Park (CAIP), an agro-industrial hub located in M’lang, Cotabato that integrates crop processing, value-adding facilities, and logistics linkages to the soon-to-rise Central Mindanao Airport (CMA).

“You might want to consider putting up your additional facilities in CAIP. We are currently fast-tracking its registration with BOI and PEZA so we can offer greater incentives to investors like you. We are also working on proper zoning to cater to halal exporters and ensure that the facilities there are organized and attractive to investors,” she said.

The Vice Governor also added, “Alpha-3’s decision to invest here in Cotabato reflects the strong potential of our province as an agribusiness hub. We will continue to strengthen investment promotion in our province so we can also generate more jobs for our people.”

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Alpha-3’s semi-automated system which features advanced conveyors, evisceration lines, and chilling units enables high-quality, flexible output while supporting contract growers across the province. This model strengthens supply chain efficiency and stimulates economic activity through employment generation and auxiliary industries such as feed supply, cold storage, and logistics.

Further, this facility highlights the growing confidence of private players in Mindanao’s food sector and underscores Cotabato’s role in advancing national priorities for food security and countryside development. As Mr. Duque puts it, “Our ambition is to build an integrated, locally rooted poultry enterprise that supports inclusive growth while meeting the rising consumer demand for safe, affordable chicken.”