The Filipino businessman who’s trying to open a food processing factory in American Samoa was just in the territory to meet with the governor and begin the permitting process for construction of the plant at the Industrial Park.
Mr. Anthony Bernardo of AVM Bernardo Engineering gave Governor Lolo Moliga a progress report on where things stand as far as setting up the food manufacturing plant.
Director of Commerce Keniseli Lafaele says components of the factory will be fabricated on island instead of being manufactured in the Philippines and then shipped to the territory.
If the panels were to be made in the Philippines it would take about 200 containers to ship them here.
Construction will soon begin on a temporary warehouse where panels for the plant will be manufactured.
Lafaele says this will create jobs right away.
During his three day trip to the territory Mr. Bernardo is reported to have initiated applications for the anticipated construction project for the plant.
Initial permits being applied are for the temporary warehouse and fence around the lot near the M & O compound in Tafuna where the plant will be built.
This is the lot where a well attended ground breaking ceremony was held on January 22 this year.
At this time, the Filipino company has still not firmed up a third party investor/operator for the food manufacturing plant, which is to employ up to 700 people.
