Clark’s P4 billion food hub partially ready by 2027

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting to start partial operation of the P4-billion Clark National Food Hub by end-2027, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

In a statement yesterday, Tiu Laurel said he has ordered DA officials and the state-owned Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) to fast-track the construction of the mega food hub in Clark in Pampanga, with partial operations expected by the end of next year.

The DA also signed formal agreements with the FTI last Aug. 12, which covered funding, development and operations of the massive food hub.

The project is intended to close a critical gap between farm production and markets, where inefficient logistics erode farmers’ earnings, discourage private investments and increase costs for consumers, Tiu Laurel said.

The 40-hectare food hub is a partnership between the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) and FTI, aimed at centralizing food distribution, lowering logistics costs and linking farmers directly to markets.

It seeks to consolidate food aggregation, storage, processing, distribution and marketing within a single location.

The agency said planned facilities include food and cold-storage, processing areas, food safety laboratories, export processing services and wholesale and retail spaces.

FTI president Joseph Lo said the government-owned corporation has already conducted preparations since last year.

This includes the recruitment of a dedicated team focused on designing the operation of the facility.

“The team has studied food hub models and logistics practices abroad, traveling to Thailand, France, Spain, Netherlands and Japan to examine best practices that could be adapted to the Philippine setting,” the DA said.

FTI will operate, manage and maintain the facility, ensuring the efficacy and sustainability of operations. On the other hand, the DA will oversee project implementation and monitor the construction.

Once operational, the food hub is expected to generate around 2,500 jobs and open wider opportunities across the agriculture and fisheries sector.