The Philippine government met with Dutch officials in the Hague on May 8, 2024 to discuss best practices for establishing the Clark National Food Hub.
DTI Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco together with Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, and Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president Arrey Perez led the high-level meeting which highlights the government’s commitment to food security.
“The goal is to ensure a more efficient supply chain that will make food accessible, available, and affordable for the Filipino. The best way to do that is to learn from the best,” Pacheco said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the three-year Food Logistics Action Agenda presented by DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual in August 2023, which sought to revolutionize the food distribution network.
The establishment of the National Food Hub in Clark is an actualization of the plan.
“Aligned with the President’s goal of ensuring food security, this initiative will empower our farmers and the private sector, as well as strengthen our supply chain and logistics systems,” said the DTI chief.
“Establishing a National Food Hub holds immense potential benefits, from enhancing food security and stabilizing prices to promoting economic growth and fostering social stability.” Rodriguez said during the discussion.
Perez said Clark is honored to pioneer such future-proofed food hub, following the vision of the President.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya received the delegation and commercial counsellor Magnolia Misolas-Ashley facilitated discussions with Dutch officials led by director-general for Foreign Economic Relations Michiel Sweers, deputy director Jules Gerzon and special agriculture envoy Frederik Vossenaar.
“The Netherlands—as the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural and agriculture-related products, and consistently recognized as a premier logistics hotspot in Europe, consistently ranking high at the World Bank Logistics Performance Index—is an ideal partner for this endeavor,” Malaya said.
