BOI gives go-signal to P476-M cold storage facility

The Board of Investments (BOI) has green-lit a P476.5-million cold storage facility to house perishable and processed goods of agribusinesses based in Bulacan and Northern Luzon.  

In a statement Wednesday, the Department of Trade and Industry said the BOI granted incentives for the cold storage plant of Royale Cold Storage North Inc.

The facility – located in Marilao, Bulacan – will begin commercial operations in June 2014 and will employ some 80 personnel.

“The storage facility is designed to handle various unprocessed, semi-processed raw materials, finished products, perishable commodities such as fruits, vegetables, livestock and poultry products, and processed marine products,” the statement read.

The facility will provide cold storage services to agriculture, marine, and processed food companies based in Bulacan and the Northern Luzon provinces, it added.

It can house up to 3,409,920 pallets per year for cold storage and 9,720,000 kilograms annually for blast freezing.

“Investments in cold storage and other post-harvest facilities aim to meet the challenges of the growing demand of agricultural products,” the statement read, noting that cold storage facilities are considered support systems for the agriculture and agribusiness sector – which are preferred activities under the Investment Priorities Plan.

The Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) has underscored the need for more cold storage facilities in meeting rising demand for food.

The DTI said CCAP is eyeing to put up facilities in the southern part of Mindanao and in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and Central Visayas. — SOA/BM, GMA News