The Hon. Edgardo Angara, Secretary of Agriculture launched the Agribusiness Center for Western Visayas (ACWV) Foundation, Inc. 11 days before Christmas 2000 at the ACWV building inside the CPU Campus.

The first part of the program was the Ribbon Cutting & Dedication of the ACWV Office by Sec. Angara and University Chaplain Rev. Jerson Narciso, respectively, at the site of the ACWV building, located between the Alumni Building and the Roselund. After that, Sec. Angara and all the attendees took a short stroll towards the Educational Media Center (2nd Flr. of Dining Hall), about 100m away where the second part of the program was held.

Dr. Juanito M. Acanto, CPU President & Trustee of ACWV welcome the participants and acknowledged the guests.

Mr. Manuel Q. Lim, Jr., Chairman and President of the National Agribusiness Development Center (NADC) presented the DA-ADC partnership: Agribusiness Investment Projects. Mr. Ricardo P. Provido, Jr., President and CEO of the ACWV Foundation, Inc., presented the Agribusiness Center for Western Visayas. He specially mentioned the advantages of the bamboo and fruits production in the region. He said that we (Iloilo) are in a better situation compared to that of Davao and Cebu because we are nearer Manila.

Engr. Ramon G. Hechanova, Chairman of the Board introduced the other ACWV members of the Board of Directors, namely: Mrs. Lily Ong, Vice-Chairman; Mr. Ricardo P. Provido, Jr., President & CEO; Dr. Jose A. Alcarde, Vice-President; Ms. Dawna Rhoda Jamandre, Corporate Secretary; Mr. Franklin Lopez, Treasurer; Ms. Edna Viterbo, Asst. Treasurer; Ms. Cecilia Acevedo, Auditor; Dr. Juanito Acanto, Mr. Herminio L. Maravilla II,  

MOA signing between NADC, WVADC and CPU. (R-l) WVADC Champion Quintin Doromal, President Juanito Acanto, and witness Ramon Hechanova.

President Acanto addressing the attendees at the launching program of the Agribusiness Center for Western Visayas at the Educational Media Center.

Mr. Rogelio Olivar, Mr. Francis Trenas, Mr. Terence S. Uygongco, members; Dr. Quintin S. Doromal, Champion; Mr. Nicolasito S. Calawag, Executive Director.

Sec. Angara then inducted them to office after which a signing of Memorandum of Agreements between the NADC and the ACWV and between CPU and the ACWV was performed. A MOA between the Nueva Swine Valley, Inc. and ACWV was signed launching the Hog Contract Growing Project with the former.

Dr. Quintin S. Doromal, NADC Champion for Western Visayas introduced the keynote speaker, the Hon. Edgardo Angara. In his speech, Sec. Angara strongly praised this worthy endeavor and unequivocally threw his department’s support for this kind of cause. He noted and appreciated Nueva Swine’s 50 thousand hectares corn and cassava production project and encouraged others to follow for the reason that the Philippines is mainly an agricultural country and before we be industrialized we must strengthen agriculture first and foremost. The program ended with a press conference with the local media.

Sec. Angara cutting the ribbon at the Agribusiness Center.