CLARK FREEPORT ZONE – The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Department of Agriculture (DA), for the development of the P3.6 billion Bagsakan ng Bayan (BBM) Mega Food Hub.
The partnership marks a milestone in transforming the Clark aviation complex into the Clark Aviation Capital, while advancing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize the country’s agri-logistics and strengthen national food security through science, innovation, and infrastructure.
“This partnership aligns squarely with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize agricultural development and strengthen the agro- and agri-logistics value chain, particularly in advancing the nation’s aquaculture and agriculture industries,” CIAC President Joseph Alcazar said.
According to him, the collaboration covers the development, operation, and maintenance of a wholesale food hub that will serve the Clark Freeport Zone, New Clark City, Metro Manila, and the regions of Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon, while also providing direct access to global markets.
The project will feature state-of-the-art facilities including modern food storage warehouses, cold storage units, processing and packaging plants, administrative offices, research and quality control centers, and trading spaces for both local and export-oriented food products.
For his part, FTI President and CEO Joseph Rudolph C. Lo noted that the Clark hub will revive FTI’s original mission of linking farmers directly with consumers.
“The hub will encourage producers and entrepreneurs, ensure fair farm-gate prices, lower food costs, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs, and stabilize supply,” he said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the project reflects the government’s commitment to replicate the success of regional food hubs seen in other ASEAN countries.
“This is one of several mega food hubs the DA will develop to ensure stable markets and long-term food security. This supports the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of giving farmers and fisherfolk fair access to markets through strategically located food terminals,” he explained.
The Clark National Food Hub will rise on a 46-hectare property in Clark, Pampanga, with development of the first 10 hectares set to begin early next year.
The complex will also include a Halal-certified zone and spaces for One Town, One Product (OTOP) enterprises that promote local innovation and sustainable livelihoods.
Future expansions will include a 40-hectare hub in Bukidnon to serve Mindanao producers and a 30-hectare facility in Quezon province for Southern Luzon and Bicol produce.
FTI said it will lease the Clark property from CIAC for 25 years to ensure a long-term partnership for food infrastructure development. (MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)