The Gokongwei Group’s food and beverage arm Universal Robina Corporation (URC) is putting up a new production plant in Malvar, Batangas that will produce many of the new products the firm will introduce in the coming years.

“This mega plant will feature state-of-the-art manufacturing technology – from the way it will be constructed all the way to how it will be operated,” said URC President and CEO Irwin Lee in a statement.

Construction of the manufacturing plant will begin this year and expansion will span some 10 to 15 years. URC did not disclose the project cost.

When completed, the new plant will cover an area of 30.7 hectares and employ some 3,000 workers directly and indirectly while its high-end technology will optimize use of resources.

“The manufacturing lines to be installed in Malvar will incorporate design improvements that will further reduce material resource inputs, production wastage, labor efforts, and energy as well as water consumption,” Lee said.

It will have solar panels to generate power, and the buildings will make use of as much natural lighting and ventilation as possible. It will also maximize recovery of rainwater and reuse of wastewater.

URC has been pivoting towards making renewable energy take up a bigger share in its power use. It has been installing solar panels at several of its facilities in the Philippines, and in its manufacturing hubs in Thailand and Vietnam.

“We look forward to building a healthy relationship with the people of Malvar. We also look forward to doing our part in economic development and nation building by providing jobs to the residents of Malvar, and the rest of the country, with the full build-out of this manufacturing facility,” said Lee.