ISI officially begins construction of E-beam facility in Tanay

From L-R: Municipality of Tanay Mayor Hon. Rex Manuel Tanjuatco, ABCI Chairman Dr. Walter W. Brown, ISI Vice President Victor M. Delgado, ABCI President and CEO Robertino E. Pizarro, ISI President and CEO Paul B. Juat, ABCI Director Annabelle P. Brown, ISI Consultant Luvimina G. Lanuza, DOST Secretary Prof. Fortunato M. de la Peña, Nexus Agribusiness Solutions Managing Director Dr. Nerlita M. Manalili, PNRI Director Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla,  and Landbank of the Philippines Vice President Marietta B. Cajaguiran.

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Irradiation Solutions Inc. (ISI), a subsidiary of A Brown Company Inc. (ABCI), recently held the ground-breaking ceremony for the first commercial electron beam (e-beam) irradiation facility in the Philippines, signaling the official start of construction. Located in Tanay, Rizal, the facility will be utilizing a new process that enables the treatment of goods using Electron Beam technology, the first of its kind in the country. 

E-beam irradiation is a processing and preservation technique where food or non-food products are exposed to accelerated electrons from electron beam machines. It is a globally accepted technology supported by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), particularly ISO 11137, which is the international standard governing the sterilization of health-care products using radiation. E-beam irradiation is used in more than 60 countries and is considered the most economical alternative among available commercial sterilization methods. 

Present at the ceremony were Prof. Fortunato de la Peña from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Dr. Carlo Arcilla from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Francis Penaflor, Acting Chief of the Agri-Based Industries  Division of the Board of Investments, and Hon. Rex Manuel Tanjuatco, Mayor of Tanay, among others.

“I am really happy that this is happening. This technology will immensely help not only the medical field but also those in the agriculture sector,” said de la Peña.

PNRI, who has been championing the creation of a private irradiation facility since 2017, welcomed the Tanay facility with open arms. “ABCI and ISI realized DOST’s commitment to help set-up a private irradiation facility. For our part, DOST-PNRI will assist in the training of the future workers of the ISI irradiation facility on the different aspects of the irradiation process,” said Dr. Arcilla.

According to Paul B. Juat, CEO of ISI, the project seeks to promote additional economic activity both locally and nationally.  “We are anticipating the creation of more jobs and other opportunities as a result of this new facility, which is expected to create an impact to the local economy of Rizal. And with irradiation technology recognized globally as a proven and safe technology, we can better support the growth of various industries and help develop multiple downstream industries as well.”

With a target completion date of September 2023, the e-beam facility will use a 10 MeV e-beam linear accelerator to sterilize single-use medical devices like surgical gloves, masks, and syringes. Additionally, it will be used to reduce the microbial load of food products like herbs, spices, and frozen seafood, among others. Future users of ISI’s e-beam facility, who were also in attendance during the ground-breaking ceremony, include Great Leaf Trading Inc., H.E.A.L.S. Inc, GH Nutripharma Inc., and Gyllmarc Ingredients Inc.

The facility will consist of an E-Beam Building that includes the Bunker Shield, Cold Storage, Dry Storage, and Administration Building. Other auxiliary facilities are also included in the facility. Strategically located along the Sampaloc-Tanay Road, The 1.17-hectare e-beam and cold storage is easily accessible by Marcos Highway, Marilaque Road, and Manila East Road-Ortigas Extension.

“With ISI, cost-effective commercial sterilization services can help build resilience in agri-fishery from shelf-life and post-harvest losses on top of improving health and safety amid the pandemic.  Moreover, improving local production to export quality opens the country’s doors to the international market,” added Juat.