GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led on Friday the inauguration of Unilever’s P4.7 billion-personal care facility in General Trias, Cavite, which he said was a result of his trip to Belgium.

The President said the state-of-the-art-facility is one of the results of his trip to Belgium during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-European Union (EU) Summit in December last year.

“I would like to note that this major investment is amongst the pledges that we received during our trip to Belgium for the ASEAN-EU Summit last December,” President Marcos said in his speech during the inauguration of Unilever’s New Beauty, Well-Being, and Personal Care Factory (BWPC). 

The President is hopeful that Unilever’s largest personal care facility in the world will generate over 5,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for the people.

“It is a truly welcome development for all our shared efforts to strengthen our manufacturing sector and to ultimately create jobs and gainful opportunities for our people. This manufacturing plant is projected to produce nearly 90,000 tons of various personal care products annually. And this is to meet the export demands for Unilever products,” the chief executive adds.

The BWPC factory will house the company's production of daily beauty and hygiene needs such as shampoo, hair conditioners, deodorants, and face creams and will export products to Southeast Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, and Kenya.

Benjie Yap, Unilever Philippines Chairman and CEO, noted that the company’s investment in the new factory is anchored on its purpose to meet the needs of consumers and a direct response to the government's call for inclusive growth through countryside opportunities.

"Emerging markets contribute 59% of Unilever's global turnover, and the Philippines remains an important market and a growth driver for [the] company," he added. 

According to Yap, Unilever intends to continue investing in the talents of the Filipino workforce with the hopes of adding more jobs for Caviteños.

“We are proud to be one of the very few consumer goods companies to continue to manufacture locally more than 90% of what we sell – a testament of how the Philippines is a growth driver for Unilever and our commitment to help strengthen the local manufacturing sector,” Yap said.

He added: “Our factory features highly-specialized and advanced technologies, and over the next few years, we’ll house more automated machines operated by a highly-skilled workforce. The rise of this site will create jobs for Cavitenos and help decongest Metro Manila, all these in service of our consumers and customers all over the Philippines.”

With increased manufacturing efficiencies and its optimal location in Cavite, Unilever boasts that they have significantly reduced their carbon footprint with less waste, less fuel usage, and 25% less plastic use for deodorant products, usage of wastewater treatment facility, and geothermal and solar power for their electric supply.

The President commended the multinational consumer goods company for utilizing innovations and for their corporate social responsibility efforts for the environment. 

“Through our coordinated and synergized efforts, this will lead towards the realization of this administration’s socio-economic agenda. I have faith that we can actualize the goals of boosting employment, adapting research, development, and innovation, and shaping a blue and a green economy,” the President said.

PBBM added: “Unilever Philippines has pioneered green programs through its initiatives such as the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, Malasakit for All, and Zero Waste Program. These intend to lessen the environmental carbon footprint, deliver basic goods and services to vulnerable sectors, and address plastic pollution.”

The Chief Executive, together with Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alberto Pascual, awarded the Certificate of Registration from the Board of Investments to Unilever Philippines President and CEO Yap for the company’s P4.7 billion investment in its Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care factory, its state-of-the-art technologies, export commitments, and local employment.

The President ended his message by calling for the support of everyone to have a more sustainable future: “I enjoin everyone to strive towards building a healthier and more resilient future by devising ecologically sound initiatives that confront our contemporary challenges.” (CH/PIA-Laguna)