FTI lays out P20B on ‘mega’ food hubs
Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) will invest about P20 billion to build five large-scale food hubs in key areas nationwide to enhance the distribution of farm products and lower retail prices.
The state-run firm said the food hubs in Clark, Pampanga; Tiaong, Quezon; Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; Camarines Sur and Cebu will serve as the backbone of a modern food distribution system.
“By connecting production areas directly to markets through integrated food hubs and cold chain facilities, we can reduce logistics costs, minimize postharvest losses and deliver fresher, more affordable food to Filipino families,” FTI president and CEO Joseph Rudolph Lo said in a statement over the weekend.
Lo said the food hubs will require about P20 billion and several years to complete. It will be complemented by 16 regional food terminals nationwide.
Many of these projects will commence operations before the end of the Marcos administration.
FTI said the Commonwealth Market will also be integrated into the food distribution network, which will include cold storage, trading facilities and modern distribution centers.
A mega Kadiwa food hub in Taguig is slated for completion by October, while regional food hubs in Cebu and Lingayen are being operationalized to boost the government’s P20 per kilogram of rice program by enhancing storage and distribution efficiency.
Preparatory works are underway for the Clark mega food hub, with soil testing and safety inspections to be conducted before construction begins.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the food hubs are crucial for making the country’s food system more efficient and inclusive.
“These projects are about raising farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes while lowering the cost of food for Filipino consumers,” Tiu Laurel said.
“By strengthening logistics and connecting producers directly to markets, we are building a food system that benefits everyone from the farm to the dining table,” he added.
The infrastructure projects complement FTI’s Benteng Bigas, Meron Na initiative, now available in 807 sites nationwide.
To date, Kadiwa has sold more than 120,992 metric tons of agricultural products, expanding market access for farmers and fishers while offering more affordable options to consumers.
