The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that construction of a P500 million cold storage facility in Camarines Sur is on-track for completion before the end of the year.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte inspected the project over the weekend.
DA said the facility is expected to enhance food security, generate jobs, spur agri-investments, and significantly boost farmers’ incomes in Bicol and nearby regions.
“This mega cold storage facility is scheduled to open in December and will be capable of storing a wide range of agricultural commodities, including vegetables, meat, chicken and fish,” Tiu Laurel declared.
“It features a solar power system to help cut electricity costs, a blast freezer, and a processing and packing area to support value-adding services for our farmers,” he added.
DA said the project is also aligned with the government’s goal to turn local farmers into agricultural entrepreneurs who are not only food producers but also key contributors to economic growth.
The agency said the cold storage complex will have six refrigerated warehouses, each capable of storing approximately 224 metric tons (MT) of agricultural products with a total capacity exceeding 1,300 MT to serve not just Camarines Sur, but also other parts of Bicol, the Visayas, and even Mindanao, whose products pass through the province on their way to Metro Manila and other major markets.
“This is a great step forward in empowering our farmers,” Tiu Laurel noted. “It will allow them to preserve their harvest longer, reduce spoilage, and access new markets. ”
Villafuerte said that the facility where farmers can start benefiting from by early next year, will also help local agri producers to “diversify, add more value to their produce, and ultimately earn more.”
DA said the Camarines Sur facility is part of a nationwide network of mega and modular cold storage complexes that the government is rolling out. Other sites set to open starting next year include Taguig City, Cabanatuan City, and the provinces of Occidental Mindoro and Isabela.
In addition, over 100 modular cold storage units will also be deployed to various farming communities across the country.
“This is how we build a food-secure and farmer-empowered Philippines,” Tiu Laurel said.
