BAGUIO CITY – To offer affordable food and ensure the delivery of fresh produce” from the provinces of the Cordillera, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has set aside a total of 50 hectares of land within its managed area for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) food hub likened to the Food Terminal Inc. in Metro Manila.
“We are working with the DA for the Clark national food hub to bring better food distribution system upon the order of the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) as an assurance for food security,” said Joseph Alcazar, president and chief executive officer of the CIAC in an interview during a visit to Baguio on Tuesday.
He said a feasibility study is now being undertaken after the recent signing of the memorandum of agreement between CIAC and DA.
Alcazar said that Phase 1 of the project comprises various cold chain system infrastructure to be funded by the DA and expected to be completed in 2028 using 12 hectares of land.
He said that 38 hectares will be used for Phase 2, which could start simultaneously with Phase 1.
“We lack cold storage facilities and there are lots of foreign investors willing to be part of the project and they can start with their development so that by the time the Phase 1 is completed, they will also be ready to provide the adjacent activities in support of the whole program of food distribution via cold chain,” he said.
Alcazar said the main project proponent is the DA and their involvement is in property management.
“As estate manager, we are helping the national government to realize the program by helping build good and appropriate facilities for logistics and distribution of food products, especially those that come from North Luzon going to Metro Manila and vice versa," he said.
“We want to help the farmers which is an order from the President,” he added.
The official said that while Clark is built for eight million air passengers, their current clients are just about four million, which is the same as the pre-pandemic numbers.
“We have many international flights but the local flights are catching up. The flights with turbo propellers at the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) will soon be transferred in Clark which will boost the passenger data,” he said.
He said that cargo flights are also increasing, and they are gearing up to establish Clark as a cargo hub. (PNA)