Clark Food Hub in Philippines to Break Ground, PHP 4 Billion Investment, Partial Operations by 2027

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Clark National Food Hub is about to enter its construction phase. The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) have signed agreements on project funding, development, and operations, and FTI has also signed a lease agreement with Clark International Airport Corp. for the facility site, clearing the way for the project to commence.

In a statement, the Department of Agriculture said that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has tasked FTI President Joseph Lo and Agriculture Undersecretary Arrey Perez with ensuring the project achieves partial operations by the end of 2027. Approximately PHP 4 billion has been committed to the project so far, and groundwork for the construction phase is already in place.

The project site is located within approximately 40 hectares in Clark Aviation Capital in Pampanga province, with room for future expansion.

Tiu Laurel noted that Perez's prior experience in completing road networks and major buildings ahead of schedule in New Clark City will help maintain the food hub's fast-track timeline.

The hub will integrate food consolidation, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing into a single integrated system. Planned facilities include food and cold storage, processing areas, food safety laboratories, an export processing zone, and wholesale and retail spaces.

Tiu Laurel said the project aims to fill a critical gap between agricultural production and the market, as inefficient logistics erode farmer incomes, deter private investment, and increase costs for consumers.

"If our farmers can produce more but cannot bring their products to market efficiently and profitably, we cannot build a modern agricultural sector," Tiu Laurel said. "Today, we lay the foundation for this project to move from paper to reality."

The Agriculture Secretary said this mega food hub is central to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision of building a more modern and food-secure agricultural sector in the Philippines. "This is not just a campaign promise. For President Marcos, this is a covenant with the Filipino people, especially those who feed the nation every day," he said.

On the food hub model, Lo said preparations have been underway since last year, including the formation of a dedicated team focused on designing the facility's operations. The team studied food hub models and logistics practices abroad, visiting Thailand, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Japan to examine best practices applicable to the Philippine context.

FTI will be responsible for the facility's operations, management, and maintenance to ensure its efficiency and sustainability. The Department of Agriculture will oversee project implementation and monitor construction activities.

Once fully operational, the hub is expected to support approximately 2,500 jobs and create opportunities across the agriculture and fisheries value chain.

Perez said the hub ultimately aims to increase incomes at the farm level. "Our dream is simple: to put more money in the pockets of our farmers and fisherfolk. At the Clark hub, they will have a direct pathway to sell their produce to markets and buyers, with fewer intermediaries in between. This is not just about buildings and warehouses—it's about building a system that makes life easier and more profitable for those who feed our nation," he said.