The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) have committed to fast-track the development of a food hub within the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) property to strengthen the country’s food supply chain.
Following a site inspection, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed that about 47 hectares have been allocated for the project, with an initial 12 hectares set for development at an estimated cost of P2 billion. Laurel said the available area is sufficient for initial operations, despite challenges in access, and emphasized that the facility will be scalable for future expansion.
DOTr Secretary and CIAC Board Chairman Vivencio Dizon cited Clark’s strategic location—close to Subic Seaport, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and Clark International Airport—as ideal for the food and logistics hub. He described the project as a potential “game-changer” for agriculture and food logistics in the country.
Targeted for completion within 18 months from construction start, the Clark Food Hub will serve as a central site for the storage, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, aiming to give farmers more direct market access.
Initially proposed by France’s Semmaris, operator of the Rungis International Market, the project faced delays after Semmaris’s local partner withdrew due to high relocation costs.
The DA is also exploring other sites nationwide for similar hubs to boost farm productivity, stabilize food supply and prices, and create jobs across the agriculture sector. (PIA Region 3)
