Clark Food Hub eyes partial operations by end-2027 — DA

The proposed food storage and processing hub in Pampanga, aimed at boosting the country's food security, is expected to begin partial operations before the end of 2027, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Sunday.

The 40-hectare Clark National Food Hub will be located at the Clark Aviation Capital in Pampanga. It will house facilities for food aggregation, storage, processing, distribution and marketing, the DA said.

“We cannot build a modern agriculture sector if our farmers can produce more but cannot get their products to markets efficiently and profitably,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said.

With an expected funding of ₱4 billion, the food hub will include food and cold-storage facilities, processing areas, food safety laboratories, export processing facilities, and wholesale and retail spaces.

The DA and Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) signed an agreement for the project's funding. Meanwhile, FTI and the Clark International Airport Corporation have also partnered to provide the site for the food hub.

“At the Clark Hub, they will have a direct way to sell their harvest to markets and buyers, with fewer layers in between," Agriculture Undersecretary Arrey Perez said.

This is not just about buildings and warehouses—it is about building a system that makes life easier and more profitable for those who feed our nation,” he added.

Once operational, the food hub is supposedly expected to generate about 2,500 jobs in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. — MCG, GMA News