To provide affordable food and ensure the delivery of fresh produce from the provinces of the Cordillera, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has allocated a total of 50 hectares of land within its managed area for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) food hub, which is likened to the Food Terminal Inc. in Metro Manila.
“We are working with the DA for the Clark national food hub to bring a better food distribution system upon the order of the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) as an assurance for food security,” stated Joseph Alcazar, president and chief executive officer of CIAC, in an interview during a visit to Baguio on Tuesday.
Alcazar mentioned that a feasibility study is currently underway following the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement between CIAC and the DA.
Phase 1 of the project will involve various cold chain system infrastructures, which will be funded by the DA and is expected to be completed by 2028, utilizing 12 hectares of land. He added that 38 hectares will be designated for Phase 2, which could commence simultaneously with Phase 1.
“We lack cold storage facilities, and there are many foreign investors willing to participate in the project. They can begin their development so that by the time Phase 1 is completed, they will also be ready to provide the adjacent activities in support of the whole program of food distribution via cold chain,” Alcazar explained.
He emphasized that the main project proponent is the DA, while CIAC’s role involves property management. “As estate manager, we are helping the national government realize the program by assisting in building good and appropriate facilities for logistics and distribution of food products, especially those coming from North Luzon to Metro Manila and vice versa,” he said. “We want to help the farmers, which is an order from the President,” he added.
Alcazar also noted that while Clark is designed to accommodate eight million air passengers, their current client numbers are around four million, similar to pre-pandemic levels. “We have many international flights, but local flights are catching up. The flights with turbo propellers at the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) will soon be transferred to Clark, which will boost passenger data,” he stated.
Additionally, he mentioned that cargo flights are increasing, and they are preparing to establish Clark as a cargo hub.
