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The Department of Agriculture opened four renewable-energy-powered modular cold storage facilities and a P51.5-million slaughterhouse in Camarines Sur
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The projects, together with P79.6 million worth of agricultural and fisheries interventions, are expected to benefit more than 10,762 farmers, fisherfolk and other food producers in 10 towns
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The slaughterhouse will serve 1,303 livestock raisers across 29 barangays
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Each modular cold storage unit uses a hybrid power system combining solar panels, a wind turbine, battery storage and a diesel backup generator
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The projects support the DA’s Philippine Food Chain Logistics Master Plan 2023-2033
The Department of Agriculture (DA) opened four renewable-energy-powered modular cold storage facilities and a P51.5-million slaughterhouse in Camarines Sur to reduce post-harvest losses, improve meat-handling services and expand market opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and livestock raisers.
The inauguration ceremony was held October 19, 2026 in the town of San Jose, with similar cold storage units turned over in Garchitorena, Lagonoy and Tigaon. The four cost a combined P45.5 million.
The DA also distributed P79.6 million worth of agricultural and fisheries interventions, including four-wheel-drive tractors, a combine harvester, seeds, garden tools, boats and fishing gear.
The infrastructure projects and interventions are expected to benefit more than 10,762 farmers, fisherfolk and other food producers across 10 towns in Camarines Sur.
The slaughterhouse, meanwhile, is expected to benefit 1,303 livestock raisers across 29 barangays. Of its P51.5-million project cost, P41.2 million was financed through a World Bank loan, while the remaining amount was shared equally by the local government unit and the national government.
Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the facilities are intended to strengthen local food supply chains and generate employment and economic opportunities.
READ: DA pushes cold storage expansion, agri logistics upgrades for food security
“These facilities are investments in the livelihoods of our farmers, fisherfolk and livestock raisers. By reducing post-harvest losses, improving meat-handling services and connecting local producers to better markets, we can help them earn more from their hard work,” Tiu Laurel said.
“They can also generate jobs in processing, storage, transport and related services, while attracting more economic activity that will support San Jose’s growth and benefit surrounding communities,” he added.
Designed for vegetables, high-value crops
Developed by the DA’s Agricultural and Fisheries Logistics Office, in coordination with the Bureau of Agriculture and Fishery Engineering, the modular cold storage project supports the Philippine Food Chain Logistics Master Plan 2023-2033.
Each standard 40-foot modular unit measures 12 meters long, 2.44 meters wide and 2.85 meters high. Its 150-millimeter polyurethane insulation is designed to retain cold air, with an operating temperature range of 1°C to 10°C for suitable chilled commodities.
The hybrid power system combines 30 solar panels rated at a minimum of 700 watts each, a three-kilowatt wind turbine, a lithium-ion battery bank with at least 160 kilowatt-hours of capacity and a 25-kilowatt diesel backup generator. A 15-kilowatt inverter supports the solar installation.
The facilities also incorporate washing, processing, loading, and staging areas to improve produce handling prior to distribution. Potential users include growers of vegetables, pineapple, sweet potato and other high-value crops.
Designed for a typhoon-prone region, the cold storage project specifies a structural wind-load target of 350 kilometers per hour, while the wind turbine is rated for wind speeds of up to 315 kilometers per hour. Actual performance will depend on construction quality, maintenance and operating conditions.
The investments address two related local food-supply gaps: inadequate storage for perishable produce and limited livestock slaughter and meat-handling infrastructure.
The projects support Republic Act No. 8435, or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, which provides the policy framework for modernizing the country’s agriculture and fisheries sectors.
The facilities’ long-term impact depends on sound management, affordable fees, reliable equipment and regulatory compliance. If sustained, they could reduce losses, improve quality, expand market access and raise incomes for producers in San Jose and nearby communities, DA said.
