CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) have committed to fast track the development of a food hub within the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) property to strengthen the country’s food supply chain.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the plan following a site inspection, confirming that approximately 47 hectares have been allocated for the project.
Of the total area, an initial 12 hectares have been identified for development, with an estimated project cost of P2 billion.
“While access to the area remains a challenge, the available 12-hectare portion is deemed sufficient for initial operations based on the current budget and timeline,” Laurel said.
He also stressed that the project’s success would lay the groundwork for future expansions, noting that even though the proposed size is smaller compared to Thailand’s 50-hectare agricultural distribution center, the priority is to establish a functional and scalable facility.
DOTr Secretary Vivencio Dizon, who also chairs the CIAC Board of Directors, highlighted Clark’s strategic location, being near the Subic Seaport, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and Clark International Airport, which makes it an ideal site for a logistics and agricultural hub.
He described the project as a potential “game-changer” for agriculture and food logistics in the Philippines.
The Clark Food Hub is targeted to become operational within 18 months from the start of construction.
It will serve as a centralized site for the storage, processing, and distribution of agricultural commodities, aiming to provide farmers with direct and efficient market access.
The food hub concept was initially proposed by Semmaris of France, operator of the Rungis International Market near Paris.
However, the original plan was delayed after Semmaris’s local partner withdrew due to high relocation costs associated with the former site, which risked increasing consumer prices.
In addition to Clark, the DA is also evaluating other potential sites nationwide for similar hubs.
These initiatives aim to improve farm productivity, stabilize food supply and prices, increase farmers’ income, and create new jobs and investment opportunities across the agriculture sector. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)