The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to open one of its largest cold storage projects, a ₱500-million mega facility located in Pili, Camarines Sur, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Laurel said the facility is expected to strengthen food security, generate employment, and increase the income of farmers and fisherfolk in the Bicol Region and nearby areas.
The agriculture chief, together with Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., inspected the facility on Wednesday ahead of its scheduled opening in February or March.
The mega cold storage complex features six refrigerated warehouses with a combined 2,688 pallet positions, allowing storage of up to 4,600 metric tons of boxed meat or 3,000 metric tons of vegetables.
It is also equipped with a blast freezer, processing and packing areas, and a solar power system to ensure efficient and sustainable operations.
The DA said the project will help farmers and fisherfolk gain access to higher market prices, including export opportunities, leading to increased income and job creation.
Officials noted that the facility will address the long-standing problem of post-harvest losses, as surplus agricultural produce in some parts of the country is often discarded due to the lack of adequate cold storage infrastructure.
