THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Sunday that it has identified the 47-hectare site for a future food hub in Clark, of which 12 hectares are set for initial development.
The site was agreed with Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), the landowner, it said, with initial development costs estimated at about P2 billion, the DA said.
“Access to the entire area remains challenging,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said. “But a 12-hectare section could be sufficient for initial development, considering our current budget and timelines.”
The proposed Clark hub, which will be the main distribution center for produce from the north of Luzon, is modeled on a 50-hectare Thai agricultural distribution center.
Transportation Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon, who chairs the CIAC, said the food hub’s location is strategic, with access to Subic port via the Subic-Clark Expressway.
He also cited its proximity to the Clark International Airport.
The DA said the food hub concept was originally proposed by Semmaris of France, operator of the Rungis International Market near Paris.
It said the initial plan stalled when Semmaris’s local partner withdrew due to high relocation costs associated with the original site.
The DA is also looking to establish food hubs at other sites, with the aim of stabilizing food supply and prices, while increasing farmer incomes.
The DA has said a food hub could rise on 20-30 hectares in Quezon province. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
