Candelaria, Quezon Province
11 March 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III toured the Peter Paul Philippine Corporation plant, the largest and sole manufacturer of U.S.-produced O.N.E. coconut water drink, in Candelaria, Quezon province.

Peter Paul Phil. Corp. President Jose Quimson briefed President Aquino on the different stages of its production using the latest sterilization and packaging technology to ensure a fresh coconut drink with an eight-month shelf life. In addition, the local Pepsi Company has also partnered with Peter Paul to manufacture its Tropicana cocowater drink for local distribution.

The PhP15 billion worth of investment is seen as a new boom for the Philippine coconut industry that will catapult the local coconut produce in the global market, generating jobs and revenue for the country.

The Quezon-based plantation currently employs 2,000 workers and sources its raw goods from roughly 2,500 coconut farmers in nearby provinces. Within this month, they will open another plantation of similar investment in Sorsogon and in the Bicol Region.

Peter Paul Phil. Corp. asserts itself as ‘the single largest integrated coconut product processing factory’ in the country manufacturing desiccated coconut and other coconut-based products.

Joining the President during the tour were Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

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