TO EMPLOY 300 WORKERS P300M plant aims to reboot Phl shrimp export industry

The Philippines is taking a renewed shot at rebuilding its once-thriving shrimp export industry as Gideon De Oro Seafood Corporation opened a P300 million processing plant in Toledo City, Cebu—one of the largest aquaculture investments in the region in recent years.

- Ehda M Dagooc Staff Member

The new Talavera facility is expected to boost the country's seafood export pipeline, support import substitution, and lift employment across western Cebu, a region long constrained by limited industrial activity.

The plant is projected to employ 250 to 300 workers at full capacity, with initial operations already hiring around 50 employees.

The investment marks a strategic step toward reviving an industry that, in the 1980s and early 1990s, positioned the Philippines among the world's top shrimp exporters—once ranking third globally.

The sector later collapsed due to disease outbreaks, policy gaps, and limited government support for research and development, allowing neighbors like Thailand and Vietnam to dominate the market.

"This modern facility bridges the gap left by outdated plants and puts the Philippines back in the game," said Constantine Tanchan, president of Gideon De Oro.

"We aim to reenter export markets, strengthen import substitution, and compete confidently on the global stage," Tanchan said during the official opening of the facility.

Facility Built for Efficiency, Sustainability, and Export Competitiveness