Manila: The Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) has partnered with the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) to establish a PHP3.6-billion Bagsakan ng Bayan Mega Food Hub (BBM Food Hub) in Clark, Pampanga. FTI president Joseph Lo and CIAC president Joseph Alcazar signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the project, witnessed by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority office in Taguig City on Monday, according to a news release.
According to Philippines News Agency, under the agreement, FTI will lease the Clark property from CIAC for 25 years. The FTI said the BBM Food Hub is an integrated agri-food complex designed to strengthen food security and improve farmers' income. Tiu Laurel stated that the initiative forms part of the DA's long-term strategy to modernize the country's food supply chain by building large-scale trading and distribution centers similar to successful models in neighboring countries like Thailand.
'This is one of several mega food hubs the DA will develop to ensure stable markets and long-term food security,' Tiu Laurel mentioned. 'It supports the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of giving farmers and fisherfolk fair access to markets through strategically located food terminals.' The 46-hectare complex will serve as Northern Luzon's main food trading and logistics center, integrating wholesale trading, cold storage, food processing, logistics, and agri-tourism facilities.
The hub will also feature a halal-certified zone and dedicated spaces for One Town, One Product enterprises to promote local livelihoods and innovation. FTI will begin developing a 10-hectare section of the Clark hub early next year, the DA said. Lo highlighted that the project revives FTI's original mission of linking farmers directly to consumers while promoting fair pricing and reducing post-harvest losses.
'The hub will encourage producers and entrepreneurs, ensure fair farm-gate prices, lower food costs, reduce wastage, create jobs, and stabilize supply,' Lo said. Two more mega food hubs are also being planned -- a 40-hectare facility in Bukidnon for Mindanao, and a 30-hectare complex in Quezon province for Southern Luzon and the Bicol Region.
