Bill pushes for establishment of cold storage facility in every region

A law establishing cold storage facilities in every region of the country to ensure food security has been proposed in the House of Representatives.

Cavite lawmakers Lani and her son Jolo Revilla, as well as Lani’s other son and Agimat party-list representative Bryan Revilla, made the pitch under their House Bill 10087 or the Cold Storage for Food Security Act.

“Food security is a critical concern that needs to be addressed by the government, especially in the Philippines where agriculture is a major contributor to the economy. Despite the country's abundant resources, food security remains a challenge due to various factors such as inadequate infrastructure, climate change, and natural disasters, and  one of the major factors contributing to food insecurity is post-harvest losses,” the Revillas said in their explanatory note.

“To address the issue of post-harvest losses, there is a need to establish cold storage facilities in every region of the country. Cold storage facilities can help reduce post-harvest losses, as well as improve the quality and safety of food products, thereby increasing their value and marketability,” they added.

Post-harvest losses, the Revillas said, are estimated to be around 30% for fruits and vegetables and up to 50% for some fish and meat products.

“In view of the foregoing, it is imperative to pass this bill into law,” they said.

The Revillas’ proposal also states that the funding for the creation of cold storage facilities will be sourced from the General Appropriations Act or the national budget, with priority given to underserved regions and areas with high food production.

In addition, the proposed measure will provide incentives to private entities that invest in the establishment of cold storage facilities.

These incentives may include tax holidays, exemptions, discounts, subsidies, and other forms of financial assistance.

The country has a total of 17 regions, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which was only established in 2019.

Back in January, Department of Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Philippines needs at least P1.3 trillion worth of investments to build vital infrastructure for the agricultural sector for the next three years. —Llanesca T. Panti/ VAL, GMA Integrated News