ABOUT PAGLAS CORPORATION

Nature of Business
Management and Consultancy Services of Agricultural and Industrial Lands, farms and Pastures of Fishponds, Land Lease and Banana Export.

Market
Agricultural Plantations, Commercial and Industrial Institutions

Existing Client
La Frutera, Inc., Plas Philippines, Inc.

Corporate Mission
To continue the lead it had taken in bringing economic development to the community. In so doing, provide the highest quality of service to its clientele; with the lowest possible cost through its effective and efficient operations; ensure a well-satisfied human resources; and promote community well-being and socio-economic progress and prosperity.

Corporate Vision
Paglas Corporation has sustained its being a catalyst to the economic development as a contribution to the lasting peace in ARMM, this was made possibly through synergy and commitment of people, investors, civil society in general, and government agencies thereby contributing in providing employment, livelihood and business opportunities for its constituents.

Background
The Paglas Corporation was established in 1997 when Datu Ibrahim “Toto” Paglas – President & CEO – committed substantial Paglas’ family lands and seek investments for the development of a banana plantation. Upon investment of the foreign financers, Paglas Corporation provided the labor, security and transport needs of the plantation. Now, the company employs over two thousand (2,000) workers on its 1,200 hectares banana plantation in Datu Paglas town, Maguindanao and on its main office in Davao City. Ninety percent (90%) of the workers are Muslims, and a good number are women, especially in its Packing House operations.

The day-to-day operation of the banana plantation and the marketing and selling of its bananas are handled by the joint-venture partner and investor/developer/manager, the Paglas Corporation, the La Frutera Inc. (LFI). As of 2006, total export revenues has amounted to approximately US dollars 70 million (25 million boxes). High quality bananas are exported primarily to Japan and the Middle East.

Paglas Corporation is also into the business of employment agency, trucking, security and detective agency, gas station, banana chips project and rural bank.

The company did not only succeed in building gainful businesses, but most importantly it has promoted better welfare of the community, serving itself as a living showcase that lasting peace can be attained thru sustainable economic development. This is very significant due to the fact that majority of the workers are either families, or supporters, or sympathizers, even active combatants (who had set aside their firearms in favor of farm tools), of the revolutionary group Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Its banana plantation project has given a huge employment opportunity for the people in the town of Datu Paglas. Not only it has opened its door to Christians and Muslims. Its expansion to different areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) gave a significant support in the development of the economy of the ARMM. Its responsibility in the preservation and protection of the environment was also taken into vital consideration. LFI has invested state-of-the-art technologies in the over-all operation of the banana plantation to ensure minimal (if none at all) damage to the environment.

In the past, Paglas Corporation took the challenges and struggled its way to its objective. Today, the Paglas Corporation continues to serve it purpose, fulfilling its mission of doing business while not forgetting to be of service to the community. In the future, it would still stand form to face another challenge, it would still continue to seek for more innovations and more opportunities that would result to the betterment of the life of the people.