The Department of Agriculture (DA) is constructing a ₱500-million cold storage complex in Camarines Sur, designed to integrate renewable energy into large-scale post-harvest infrastructure. The project is aimed at strengthening food security, reducing post-harvest losses, and improving rural incomes.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the facility, set to open in December, will feature a solar power system to reduce electricity costs, which are among the most significant expenses in cold chain operations. “The facility will be capable of storing vegetables, meat, chicken, and fish. It will also house a blast freezer and a processing and packing area to support value-adding services for our farmers,” Laurel said.
The complex will consist of six refrigerated warehouses with a combined storage capacity of more than 1,300 tons. It is designed to serve producers in Bicol, the Visayas, and Mindanao, while facilitating the distribution of agricultural products to Metro Manila and other major markets.
Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte welcomed the development, calling it a “game-changing initiative for local agriculture.” He added, “This will help farmers diversify, add value to their produce, and ultimately earn more. It is an investment in our farmers—the lifeblood of our country.”
The Camarines Sur complex forms part of the DA’s broader plan to roll out mega and modular cold storage facilities nationwide. Similar complexes are planned in Taguig City, Cabanatuan City, Occidental Mindoro, and Isabela, along with more than 100 modular units for smaller farming communities.
According to Laurel, the initiative is aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of transforming farmers into agri-preneurs. “This is how we build a food-secure and farmer-empowered Philippines,” he said.
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