The Department of Agriculture (DA) is building a P500-million cold storage complex in Camarines Sur, integrating renewable energy into large-scale post-harvest infrastructure to strengthen food security and rural incomes.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the facility, slated to open in December, will feature a solar power system to lower electricity costs—one of the most expensive inputs in cold chain operations.

“This mega cold storage facility is scheduled to open in December and will be capable of storing a wide range of agricultural commodities, including vegetables, meat, chicken and fish,” said Tiu Laurel. “It features a solar power system to help cut electricity costs, a blast freezer, and a processing and packing area to support value-adding services for our farmers.”

The facility will consist of six refrigerated warehouses with a combined capacity of more than 1,300 tons. Designed to serve Bicol, the Visayas, and Mindanao, it will support the distribution of products to Metro Manila and other major markets.

Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte described the project as a “game-changing initiative for local agriculture.” He added: “This will help our farmers diversify, add more value to their produce, and ultimately earn more. It’s an investment in our farmers—the lifeblood of our country—whose calloused hands bring food to our tables.”

The project forms part of a nationwide rollout of mega and modular cold storage complexes. Facilities in Taguig City, Cabanatuan City, Occidental Mindoro, and Isabela are set to follow, along with over 100 modular units for farming communities.

Tiu Laurel emphasized that the effort supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of transforming farmers into agri-preneurs. “This is how we build a food-secure and farmer-empowered Philippines,” he said.

With energy costs being a major factor in cold chain logistics, do you see solar-powered facilities as a scalable solution for agri-infrastructure across the Philippines?

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Photo credit: Department of Agriculture