The Department of Agriculture (DA) has presented a proposal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the development of food hubs across the country, aimed at addressing agricultural logistics and availability. At a briefing in Quezon City, DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the proposed facilities will be located in Clark, Pampanga, and Quezon Province, serving the North Luzon and Southern Tagalog/Bicol regions, respectively. Additional hubs are expected in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
The concept, inspired by Thailand’s successful food hub model, was proposed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel as a solution to the volatile pricing of agricultural goods. These hubs will feature cold storage and infrastructure to manage large volumes of vegetables, meat, and other produce, ensuring stable pricing and efficient supply chains.
While the project is still in early stages with no set costs or completion timeline, the DA’s recent trip to Thailand explored agricultural practices and bilateral trade opportunities. Among the outcomes was a commitment from Thai food giant Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) to build a food processing facility and distribution network in the Philippines within the next three years, further strengthening ties between the two nations’ agricultural sectors.
