CLARK FREEPORT AREA – Lawmakers approved a measure Tuesday mandating the creation of the National Food Center at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex, which aims to centralize and modernize the distribution, storage and processing of agricultural products in the country.
House Bill 10678 or “Act Establishing the Clark National Food Center, Appropriateing Funds for That and Other Purposes” was unanimously approved by the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, chaired by Iloilo Representative Ferjenel Biron.
The bill’s lead authors are Reps. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro, Maria Angela Garcia of Bataan, and Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon of Leyte; while its co-authors are representatives El Salvador Pleyto of Bulacan and Mark Go of Baguio City.
Rodríguez said there is a pressing need to address the country’s food security problems through systematic rationalization of the food distribution process.
“The creation of a national food hub in Clark will help shorten the chain of origin from manufacturer to customer [and] will not only standardize logistics but also ensure effective movement of food products, improving overall efficiency. The initiative is further strengthened through the Philippine Development Plan, which includes food security measures [and so] the Clark National Food Center is designed to achieve those goals for the Filipino people,” Rodriguez said.
Clark International Airport Corp. is responsible for developing, operating and managing the civil aviation complex that surrounds Clark International Airports and where the 62-hectare National Food Center will be established.
The president and CEO of CIAC, Arrey Pérez, said that the approval of the committee is “a patriotic act that will benefit the country’s agricultural sector and the nation. “
“We are grateful and revered to be identified as this Congress aligns with the national government’s initiative to expand the Luzon Economic Corridor, which will position the country as a regional hub for agribusiness and logistics in the Asia-Pacific, and is in line with the agricultural advancement guidelines of the Marcos administration, especially in the advancement of the country’s aquaculture and agricultural industry,” he added.
Secretary Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Economic and Investment Affairs, highlighted food and agriculture as one of the priority industries for investment.
“We are moving forward with our projects that contribute to expanding agricultural production and the food chain. The Clark National Food Hub is a step in this direction and we hope it will be a successful creation as a sustainable food security solution,” Go said.
“As soon as this proposal becomes law, it will be a boon to our country’s strong agricultural production. It will also improve freight transport services, mobility and access to key economic areas, towards transparent logistics and effective chains of origin. This means higher agricultural productivity, sustainable agribusiness and higher incomes for Filipino farmers,” Perez added.
The former president and now reprehensive of Pampanga, Gloria Arroyo, was also present at the commission’s hearing, which expressed her support for this proposal for a flagship project, raising the competence of the CIAC leaders in the promotion of investments.
Perez noted that the task will address food security and logistics issues by offering predictable, sustainable and modern responses for the demand and distribution of Luzon agricultural products in domestic and foreign markets.
The measure through the committee will be referred to the Appropriations Committee and the Ways and Means Committee for provisions on financing and tax incentives.
The Clark National Food Hub contains key elements including food warehouses, food storage facilities, processing units, administrative offices, logistics infrastructure, and space for wholesale and retail markets.
The project will serve as a hub for high-quality food products, serving producers, collectors, retailers, supermarkets, suppliers and regional producers. It provides an adequate wholesale customer market to meet new long-term food needs, facilitates the export of Philippine agricultural products and includes an ambitious warehousing program for food companies.
Ashley Manabat is a BusinessMirror correspondent. She is vice president of Capampangan in Media Inc. , president of the NUJP Pampanga chapter and treasurer of the Pampanga Press Club.
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