The P1.7-billion processing center at Mudburon village in Alangalang, Leyte. (Photo from PNA)
President Duterte recently inaugurated a P1.7-billion rice processing complex that would modernize farming in 10,000 hectares of Leyte rice fields.
Owned by Italian Patrick Renucci and his wife Rachel Tan, the Chen Yi-Agventures complex is located in Mudburon village, Alangalang, Leyte, or some 24 kilometers away from Tacloban City.
Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Center is fully automated, with the entire production process centralized and operated using touch screens.
Renucci said: “Leveraging technology and meticulous, technically precise sorting of seed varieties, Chen Yi delivers delicious, aromatic, clean, pest and pesticide-free rice to the Filipino people.”
The Renucci couple used to live in Paris, with Patrick owning large printing firms, while Rachel managed a real estate investment fund with operations in Hong Kong, Shanghai and London.
“After Super Typhoon Yolanda, we realized it was time to give back and also to revolutionize,” Renucci said.
Since 2016, Chen Yi has been extending loans for seeds at zero interest to farmers in the area, fertilizers at very low interest rates and equipment and machinery services payable upon harvest. (Jojo Mangahis)