DA to open P500M cold storage in Camarines Sur by Dec

The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to open a P500-million cold storage facility in Camarines Sur by December, capable of storing over 1,300 tons of agricultural products.

This facility will include six refrigerated warehouses and cater to farmers not only in Camarines Sur but also in Visayas and Mindanao, facilitating access to Metro Manila markets.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the importance of the project, noting it will help preserve harvests longer, reduce spoilage, and open up new market opportunities for farmers.

The cold storage facility will feature a solar power system, blast freezer, and processing and packing area to store various commodities like vegetables, meat, chicken, and fish.

As part of its logistics master plan, the DA has allocated P3 billion for the establishment of 99 cold storage facilities nationwide, aiming to reduce spoilage and improve distribution networks.