Bicol cold-storage complex due to open by early March

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said a new P500‑million cold storage facility in Pili, Camarines Sur is expected to open in late February or early March.

The facility is nearing completion after weather‑related delays, the DA said in a statement.

According to the DA, the facility will feature six refrigerated warehouses with a combined capacity of 2,688 pallet positions, enough to store about 4,600 metric tons of boxed meat or 3,000 metric tons of vegetables.

The facility also includes a blast freezer, processing and packing areas, and a solar power system to enhance energy efficiency, the DA said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the facility will strengthen food security, support employment, and raise farmer incomes in the region.

“This investment strengthens food security, creates jobs, attracts agri-investments, and — most importantly — raises incomes of farmers, fishers, and everyone in the agriculture value chain across Bicol and neighboring regions,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.

Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr. was quoted in the statement as saying that the facility’s reach could extend beyond the province.

He said huge volumes of produce from the Visayas and Mindanao pass through Camarines Sur en route to Metro Manila and other major Luzon markets, making the province an important transit point.

Meanwhile, Mr. Laurel said the DA has also earmarked another P500 million for a complementary food hub, with implementation expected to begin in June and take about 12 months.

The planned food hub will provide trading and distribution facilities to complete the province’s emerging food system. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel