Dolefil halts GenSan expansion

GENERAL SANTOS — Fruit giant Dole Philippines, Inc. (Dolefil) has stopped its plantation expansion in this city because the company felt its investment is not welcome, a company executive said. Kevin Davis, Dolefil vice-president and managing director, said the company decided to halt its pineapple plantation expansion after a local legislator questioned the development site straddling 1,000 hectares in the villages of Sinawal and San Jose. "We have stopped additional plantings in the subject area, as of this time we are no longer entertaining invitations to partner on available lands within General Santos City. Meanwhile, we will focus our expansion efforts elsewhere until the situation is resolved," Mr. Davis said in a statement sent on Monday to BusinessWorld. "While we would like to pursue our expansion programs in General Santos City, at the same time, we would not insist on expanding in areas where we feel our investments are not welcome," he stressed. Councilor Eduardo D. Leyson III earlier hit Dolefil for the reported proliferation of land speculators with claims over the area leased to the company. One of the contested areas is the 500-hectare land owned by the Malo clan in Barangay San Jose. Dolefil paid P1 million to the clan representing two years of advance rentals pursuant to a lease contract. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples has certified that the Malo clan is the owner of the ancestral land However, Mr. Leyson said members of the Malo clan were only tenants in the area and that there are other families that occupy it such as the Cahilsot, Martinez and Aguilar clans. Some of the occupants were reportedly pastureland lease-holders with expired pasture lease agreements with the government. Mr. Davis said several individuals and groups, including indigenous peoples, have approached the company to offer their lands as potential expansion areas. "However, we only entertain offers from those who have proper personality and legal documentation over these lands," he added. Mr. Davis said those who do not have proper documentation have been advised to come back to the company after they have processed their claims and titles as required by law. "The company does not finance these claims. Neither does the company instigate people to initiate claims over land," he said. Mr. Davis also defended the deal involving the disputed area, saying "it was a legitimate business decision prompted by the demands of the business and is part of the standard operation procedure." Mr. Leyson has said the local government welcomes big investors like Dolefil but not at the expense of legitimate landowners. The councilor has also questioned the San Jose project’s environmental clearance certificate, pointing out that it was issued in favor of a cooperative and not Dolefil. — Romer S. Sarmiento, BusinessWorld