A P500 million cold storage facility in Pili, Camarines Sur, is set to transform agriculture in the Bicol region by increasing farm incomes, stabilizing food supply and serving as a regional logistics hub.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. inspected the project Wednesday ahead of its planned opening between late February and early March.
“We are here to drive this game-changing project forward,” Tiu Laurel said. “This investment strengthens food security, creates jobs, attracts agri-investments, and most importantly raises incomes for farmers, fishers and everyone in the agriculture value chain across Bicol and neighboring regions.”
Villafuerte said the project is the largest and most modern cold storage facility in the region, crediting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for backing it.
“We’re working double time to finish this as soon as possible,” he said, noting that construction slowed last year following several typhoons.
The facility includes six refrigerated warehouses with a total of 2,688 pallet positions. At full capacity, it can store 4,600 metric tons of boxed meat or 3,000 metric tons of vegetables. It also features a blast freezer, processing and packing areas, and a solar power system to reduce electricity costs.
Villafuerte noted that much of the produce from the Visayas and Mindanao already passes through the province on its way to Metro Manila and other Luzon markets. By reducing post-harvest losses and smoothing supply flows, the facility is expected to stabilize food prices while protecting farmers and fishers from market volatility, he added.
Tiu Laurel said the DA has earmarked another P500 million for a complementary food hub, with construction set to begin in June. The hub will provide trading and distribution facilities to complete the province’s emerging food system.
“With a complete food system in place, our farmers and fisherfolk can access higher-value markets and even export,” Tiu Laurel said. “That means more income, more jobs and greater food security.”
