President of Cold Chain Association of the Philippines Antonio Dizon with Danielle Del Rosario of the Phinma Group's Union Insulated Panel.Corp. that invested P700 million insulation panel plant in Porac, Pampanga.
Business leaders, government officials and experts are in unison that expanding the country's cold storage facilities is necessary to address the problem of food wastage.
The groups made this consensus at a forum titled "Achieving Food Security: Advancing Investments for Agricultural Sustainability," co-organized by PHINMA Corp., Stratbase ADR Institute, and Makati Business Club. The hybrid event took place in Makati on Monday.
"Our lofty dream is to allow farmers and fisherfolks to store their products for long periods, avoiding wastage and increasing the value of their goods," Eduardo Sahagun, executive vice president of PHINMA's construction materials group and director of PHINMA Corporation, said.
"Our hope is for all of us to support the cold chain industry in the proper transport and storage of meat and fish, contributing to food security and safety," he added.
Sahagun opened the discussion by highlighting the urgent need for food security in the Philippines amid climate change, rising food and nutrition demands, and logistical challenges.
He recalled Agriculture secretary Francisco Laurel Jr.'s earlier pronouncement that 30% of the country's agricultural produce is wasted due to a poor logistics system.
This, while 51 million Filipinos face moderate or severe food insecurity, is the highest in Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations.
Danielle del Rosario, Chief Operating Officer of the Union Insulated Panel Corporation, a unit of PHINMA, explained that improved agricultural infrastructure enhances food security by stabilizing and increasing the food supply.
"Investments in modern irrigation systems, cold storage facilities, and cold chain logistics networks reduce post-harvest losses, increase crop yields, and ensure fresh produce reaches markets efficiently. This stabilizes food prices and makes nutritious food more accessible to all Filipinos, combating hunger and malnutrition," Del Rosario said.
"The availability of cold storage facilities in strategic areas reduces food waste by preserving perishable goods at optimal temperatures, ensuring that food reaches our tables instead of landfills," she said.
Del Rosario noted that the Philippines lags in per capita cold storage capacity, with only 0.04 cubic meters per person compared to the global average of 0.15 cubic meters.
Stratbase president Victor "Dindo" Manhit noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself declared that food security remains a top priority on the Philippine agenda and emphasized the importance of investing in infrastructure and logistics to ensure nutritious food reaches people efficiently, similar to a large-scale farm-to-table approach.
"We need to ensure a food-secure Philippines," Manhit said.
He emphasized the necessity of transitioning from a services-dependent economy to prioritizing agriculture, forestry, and industry. He advocated for increasing investments in the manufacturing sector within the agro-industrial sphere, especially for the domestic market.
"This initiative will increase the country's productivity and provide the growing domestic market with more affordable goods and essential commodities like food. This also strengthens our position in the global supply chain," Manhit stressed.
The Department of Agriculture, for its part, said developing the logistics system is one of the agency's courses of action, along with improving agri-fishery areas, modernizing and mechanizing the farming system, enhancing the post-harvest system, and expanding the local and international market.
Undersecretary Asis Perez of DA's Policy, Planning, and Regulations division said the agency commits to engaging with farmers, fisherfolk, and other stakeholders.
"We want to work with everybody and put together a framework where all stakeholders can speak and share their ideas," Perez said.
The Makati Business Club welcomes this. MBC Executive Director Roberto "Bobby" Batungbacal highlighted the need to empower cooperatives, adopt agri-tech, and develop logistics and food distribution