P500M cold storage facility in CamSur nears completion

• P500-million cold storage facility in Camarines Sur nearing completion, targeted to open by late February or early March

• Facility positioned to serve as a regional food logistics hub for Bicol and neighboring regions

• It has a capacity of 4,600 metric tons of meat or 3,000 metric tons of vegetables

• The hub features six refrigerated warehouses, blast freezer, processing areas, solar power system

• Designed to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilize food supply, and raise farm and fishery incomes

• DA is planning an additional P500-million food hub to complement the cold storage facility

A P500-million cold storage facility in Camarines Sur is nearing completion, a major agriculture and logistics investment that officials say could boost farm incomes, stabilize food supply, and anchor a regional food hub in the Bicol region.

Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Camarines Sur governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. inspected the facility on January 14 ahead of its targeted opening by late February or early March.

 Project construction faced delays caused by typhoons and weather-related disruptions late last year.

“We are here to drive this game-changing project forward,” Tiu Laurel said in a statement.

“This investment strengthens food security, creates jobs, attracts agri-investments, and—most importantly—raises incomes of farmers, fishers, and everyone in the agriculture value chain across Bicol and neighboring regions,” he said.

The project is part of the Marcos administration’s broader push to modernize agriculture by enabling producers to move up the value chain. By providing storage and processing capacity, the facility allows farmers and fishers to avoid selling perishable goods at distressed prices and better time their entry into the market.

READ: DA plans to build 202 cold storage facilities nationwide

The complex will house six refrigerated warehouses with a combined 2,688 pallet positions.

At full capacity, it can store about 4,600 metric tons of boxed meat or 3,000 metric tons of vegetables. It is also equipped with a blast freezer, processing and packing areas, and a solar power system designed to reduce electricity costs and improve operational efficiency.

“This won’t just serve Camarines Sur,” Villafuerte said. “It will support the entire Bicol region, the Visayas, and even Mindanao.”

He noted that produce from the Visayas and Mindanao already passes through the province en route to Metro Manila and other major Luzon markets, positioning Camarines Sur as a natural logistics node.

By cutting post-harvest losses and smoothing supply flows, the facility is expected to help stabilize food prices while protecting farmers and fishers from market volatility.

Officials said the project’s long-term impact will depend on efficient management, affordable user fees, and strong linkages with traders and institutional buyers.

Tiu Laurel also announced that the DA has allocated an additional P500 million for a complementary food hub, with development planned to start in June and an estimated completion time of around 12 months.

“With a complete food system in place, our farmers and fisherfolk can access higher-value markets and even export,” Tiu Laurel said. “That means more income, more jobs, and greater food security.”

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