Gov’t identifies 47 hectares for new Clark food hub

Government officials have identified 47 hectares in a property owned by Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), for the planned food hub that will serve as a central storage, processing, and distribution of agricultural commodities while providing access to farmers and traders.

In a statement released Sunday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that while the area for the food hub has been identified, the development of the initial 12-hectare section will cost some P2 billion.

“Access to the entire area remains challenging,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, “but a 12-hectare section could be sufficient for initial development, considering our current budget and timelines,” with the project expected to be operational within 18 months from the start of construction.

According to Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, the hub is a potential “game-changer” for Philippine agriculture and food logistics, as he cited Clark’s strategic location given it was close to the Subic Seaport and the Subic-Clark Expressway.

“With renewed government backing, both Sec. Tiu Laurel and Sec. Dizon hope the project can finally move from blueprint to reality — marking a major step toward burdened consumers,” the DA said.

The DA is also looking at other sites across the country to set up similar food hubs to bolster farm output, stabilize food supply and prices, increase farmers income and generate jobs and investments. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News