These cold chain projects are located in Sultan Kudarat, Davao Region, Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Balingoan in Misamis Oriental, and in Surigao del Norte.
The implementing agency of these projects is the Bureau of Post Harvest Research and Extension (BPRE) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The Sultan Kudarat cold chain project is now in the process of procuring 416 units of crates, one unit cold storage facility, one unit refrigerated truck, and ice makers.
The Davao cold chain project, on the other hand, is in the process of procuring four units of cold storage facilities for various areas, one refrigerated truck for Davao City, and an ice making facility for Malita in Davao del Sur.
The procurement of one unit of cold storage facility for the Normin Veggies Bukidnon Cold Storage is already 50 percent complete, while the documents for the procurement of one unit of ice making facility for Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte is under process.
The procurement of an ice making facility and a refrigerated truck for Zamboanga City is also being done.
Meanwhile, for the Balingoan Ice Maker Facility Project in Misamis Oriental, documents for the procurement of one unit of ice making facility is still being processed, same for the Dapa Surigao del Norte Ice Maker Facility Project.
Cerge Remonde, head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), said the six cold chain projects are among the 27 infrastructure projects that the government is investing in Mindanao until 2010.
The total cost of the 27 priority projects is P73 billion. He, however, failed to reveal as to how much was allocated for the cold chain projects.
Cold chain facilities are essential to Mindanao, which is the agribusiness super region of the country. Agricultural goods like fruits and vegetables have to be stored well in order to preserve their quality for shipment, especially for export activities.
