SAN FERNANDO, CEBU — Cebu is firmly cementing its position as a key player in the country’s booming construction industry with the inauguration of Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc.’s new production line on Thursday, July 18.
This enables Taiheiyo’s facility in this town to increase its cement production capacity from 2 million tons annually to 5 million, with the aim of raising its market share to 10%. Moreover, the modern facility also features advanced, energy-efficient technology that reduces carbon dioxide emission and waste disposal that align with its environmental sustainability goals.
Taiheiyo president and CEO Takashi Miyashita and Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo received Gov. Gwen Garcia at the facility in Barangay South Poblacion. She was joined by first district Board Member Raul Bacaltos, Mayor Mytha Ann Canoy, and the rest of the municipal council members.
Representing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go and Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
This added improvement for Taiheiyo comes just nine days after President Marcos led the inauguration of Compostela Works in Compostela, Cebu — the country’s biggest steel mill that has an annual production capacity of 1 million tons of rebar.
Gov. Garcia thanked Taiheiyo for its continued trust and confidence in Cebu by doubling down on its investments here. Media reported that Taiheiyo spent P15 billion for the construction of the new facility.
With various developments in Cebu led by the private sector, Gov. Gwen is elated that her challenge to the mayors to never settle but to continually “level up” in their public service performance is also being heeded by the private sector.
“Surely, there must be some meaning in this symbolic meeting of minds from the public sector and the private sector, meeting up to the challenge of levelling up right here,” Gov. Garcia said.
The Taiheiyo plant here sits on a 44-hectare site and employs over 330 local workers, further stimulating the local economy by generating additional employment in the surrounding community.
Gov. Garcia thanked Taiheiyo for working with the province in lowering down the price of cement so that Capitol-funded infrastructure projects could make some savings; and in accepting at least 30% of solid waste from Cebu LGUs which the plant converts into Refuse Derived Fuel that helps power its day-to-day operations.
“This has been a continuing, mutually beneficial relationship for and in behalf of the Province of Cebu. We thank you, we congratulate you, Taiheiyo. You have indeed been and continue to be a valued partner of this great, united province of Cebu,” the Governor said. | BJR