MAKILALA, COTABATO—The Province of Cotabato is emerging as a promising investment hub in Mindanao, with the opening of Alpha-3 Chicken Dressing Services Corp.’s semi-automated poultry dressing plant in Barangay Saguing, Makilala.

On 8 September 2025, Cotabato Vice Governor Rochella Marie “Ella” Taliño Taray personally visited and inspected the said facility, which began operations in August 2025 and is quickly positioning itself as a key player in Cotabato’s agro-industrial development.

Owned and managed by Ms. Bonilyn Espina-Duque (President) and Mr. Aries Christe Aaron Duque (Plant Manager), the dressing plant currently operates at a capacity of 25,000 heads per 12-hour shift and employs 150 local workers. During their meeting with the Vice Governor, the owners shared that they plan to expand into a two-shift operation, with a capacity of 50,000 heads and an estimated workforce of 250-300 employees.

Workers in white lab coats and blue hairnets preparing chickens for processing at a poultry dressing plant.
IN PHOTO: Vice Governor Rochella Marie “Ella” Taliño Taray (middle) inspecting the evisceration line

In response, Vice Governor Taray encouraged them to consider expanding at Cotabato Agro-Industrial Park (CAIP), an agro-industrial hub located in M’lang, Cotabato that integrates crop processing, value-adding facilities, and logistics linkages to the soon-to-rise Central Mindanao Airport (CMA).

Workers operating a semi-automated poultry dressing machine, processing chickens in a clean and organized poultry dressing plant.

“You might want to consider putting up your additional facilities in CAIP. We are currently fast-tracking its registration with BOI and PEZA so we can offer greater incentives to investors like you. We are also working on proper zoning to cater to halal exporters and ensure that the facilities there are organized and attractive to investors,” she said.

Three individuals in protective clothing and boots discussing inside a poultry dressing facility.
(L-R): Vice Governor Rochella Marie “Ella” Taliño Taray; Alpha-3 President Ms. Bonilyn Espina-Duque; Alpha-3 Plant Manager Mr. Aries Christe Aaron Duque

The Vice Governor also added, “Alpha-3’s decision to invest here in Cotabato reflects the strong potential of our province as an agribusiness hub. We will continue to strengthen investment promotion in our province so we can also generate more jobs for our people.”


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