Photo courtesy of Connie Calipay/PNA.
Thousands of farmers are expected to benefit from a newly opened fruits and vegetables processing facility in Camarines Sur, which began operations on Monday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the site in Barangay San Jose, Pili, where the project was carried out by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the provincial government.
He was joined by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte during the inspection.
The facility was designed to handle the collection, processing, and storage of agricultural produce, converting them into chilled, frozen, dried, canned, and puréed products.
Authorities said the project, costing Php290 million, is expected to create hundreds of jobs while improving efficiency in handling farm outputs.
Agriculture officials noted that the facility aims to reduce post harvest losses, increase farmers’ earnings, and help maintain a steady food supply.
Villafuerte said the hub is intended to serve not only Bicol but also producers from the Visayas and Mindanao, reinforcing the region’s role in the food chain.