Manila: The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has designated 50 hectares of its managed land for the Department of Agriculture's (DA) new food hub, aimed at providing affordable food and facilitating the delivery of fresh produce from the Cordillera provinces. This initiative is part of a larger effort to enhance food distribution systems, as directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address.
According to Philippines News Agency, Joseph Alcazar, president and CEO of CIAC, discussed the plans during a recent visit to Baguio. He stated that a feasibility study is underway following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between CIAC and the DA. The first phase of the project, to be completed by 2028, will use 12 hectares to develop cold chain infrastructure.
Alcazar further explained that the remaining 38 hectares are allocated for the second phase, which might commence alongside Phase 1. The project seeks to address the lack of cold storage facilities, with foreign investors showing interest in supporting the initiative. By the time Phase 1 concludes, these investors are expected to have developed additional infrastructure to bolster the food distribution program through cold chain logistics.
The DA is the primary proponent of the project, with CIAC's role focused on property management. Alcazar emphasized CIAC's commitment to assisting the national government in creating efficient logistics and distribution facilities for food products, particularly those transported from North Luzon to Metro Manila and vice versa. He highlighted the importance of supporting farmers, aligning with directives from the President.
Despite Clark being built to handle eight million air passengers, current operations serve around four million, similar to pre-pandemic levels. Alcazar noted that while international flights are robust, local flights are increasing. The transfer of turbo-propeller flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Clark is expected to boost passenger numbers. Additionally, CIAC is preparing to establish Clark as a cargo hub, responding to the rise in cargo flight operations.
