Marcos admin to build more food hubs nationwide with P215-B budget

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to roll out more food hubs nationwide this year to give farmers and cooperatives direct access to wholesale buyers and consumers, lower distribution costs, and ease long-standing logistical bottlenecks.

During a Palace press briefing on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. credited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., along with the Senate and the House of Representatives, for approving a ₱215-billion DA budget this year—funding that will allow the government to expand its network of food terminals.

“I’m happy to announce and thank the President, and of course, both Senate and Congress na nabigyan tayo ng maayos at malaking budget for ‘yung ating food hub. ‘Yun ho talaga ang kailangan natin,” Tiu Laurel said.

A major portion of the funding—more than ₱2 billion—will go to the construction of a large food hub in Clark, Pampanga, which is expected to serve as the main consolidation and trading center for agricultural products from Northern Luzon and nearby areas.

“Sa Clark, PhP2 billion ang probably ilalagay natin sa Clark for our food hub…Hopefully, by first quarter of next year, operational ‘yun,” he added.

The DA will also earmark ₱500 million each for food hubs in Pili, Camarines Sur, and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Tiu Laurel said the Bukidnon facility will rise on a 40-hectare property and will be complemented by a nearby grain terminal and cold storage complex. In Camarines Sur, the food hub will be located beside a mega cold storage facility scheduled for completion in February.

“’Yung mega cold storage natin matatapos ng February sa CamSur, then ‘yung food hub itatabi sa kanya. So, doon na ang puntahan, para kung may any excess ngayon ng produkto ng ating farmers na within striking distance nung food hubs na ‘yun, doon na dadalhin,” Tiu Laurel explained.

He stressed that the hubs are designed to function as integrated trading centers that will benefit both producers and buyers.

“Nandoon na ‘yung mga customers, nandoon na ‘yung mga cold storage, nandoon na ‘yung pati ‘yung mga kailangan nilang fertilizer na pabalik sa kanila, nandoon na parang one-stop-shop. So, ‘yun ho ang isang pinakamagandang magiging resulta nung budget na binigay sa amin this year to address that concern,” he said.