An ambitious food hub in the Clark Freport and Special Economic Zone is a potential “game-changer” that will help the Philippines secure food security and increase farm output in th countryside.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon last week vowed to speed up the development of the food hub on a land owned by Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC).
The project seeks to centralize the storage, processing and distribution of agricultural commodities, while providing efficient access to farmers, traders and other buyers.
The food hub could be operational within 18 months from the start of construction.
Dizon, who also chairs CIAC, cited Clark’s strategic location―close to both the Subic Seaport and the Subic-Clark Expressway, as well as its proximity to the Clark International Airport (CRK).
Tiu Laurel in a recent site inspection with CIAC officials confirmed that about 47 hectares have been identified for the food hub, adding that developing the initial 12-hectare section will cost around P2 billion.
“Access to the entire area remains challenging,” he noted. “But a 12-hectare section could be sufficient for initial development, considering our current budget and timelines.”
He added that while the proposed area is smaller than Thailand’s successful 50-hectare agricultural distribution center, it is important to lay the foundation for future administrations to expand on.
Dizon, meanwhile, disclosed that the food hub concept was originally proposed by Semmaris of France, operator of the busy Rungis International Market near Paris.
However, the initial plan stalled when Semmaris’s local partner withdrew due to high relocation costs associated with the original site, which could have ultimately burdened consumers.
With renewed government backing, both Tiu Laurel and Sec. Dizon hope the project can finally move from blueprint to reality―marking a major step toward modernizing the country’s food value chain.
Besides Clark, the DA is also looking at other sites across the country to set up similar food hubs to bolster farm output, stabilize food supply and prices, increase farmers income, and generate jobs and investments. DA News
