By Tracy Cabrera
Senior citizen farmers in Camarines Sur find themselves in a rare and intimate conversation with President ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. during the chief executive’s inspection of key agricultural projects in the province. (Photo from Malaya Business Insight)
PILI, Camarines Sur — Bicolana farmers, most of whom are already senior citizens, welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as he visited Camarines Sur to inspect key agricultural projects completed and being implemented by the Department of Agriculture in the province.
President Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial switch-on of the ₱500-million Bicol Mega Cold Storage Warehouse in the municipality of Pili, together with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund “L-Ray” Villafuerte, and other government officials.
According to Secretary Laurel, the cold storage facility is the first completed project under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) cold storage expansion program and is part of the Marcos Jr. administration’s efforts to upgrade the country’s food logistics system under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act.
“This will close the gap between food production and consumption by combining storage with refrigerated transportation and enhanced logistics, allowing commodities to travel farther and last longer without compromising quality,” the agriculture chief said.
Based on project details, the warehouse has a combined annual capacity exceeding 200,000 tons and features temperature-controlled rooms for pork, beef, poultry, fish, fruits, and vegetables, all designed to maintain the quality of produce from farm to market.
The DA also cited that the newly opened facility is equipped with preparation rooms for blast freezing, processing, and packaging.
“These will allow food producers to extend the shelf life of commodities, meet market standards, and command better prices,” Laurel pointed out.
“This facility underscores the commitment of the Marcos administration to cut postharvest losses, raise farmers’ incomes, stabilize food supply, and ensure lasting rural development,” he added.
Accordingly, the cold storage facility is expected to serve not only suppliers in the Bicol Region but also those from the Visayas and Mindanao.
For his part, Governor Villafuerte stressed that the opening is crucial, as the war in the Middle East has driven fuel price hikes and higher costs of transporting produce from farm to market.
“This is a game changer for Bicolandia, which has long played a key role in feeding the nation, whether directly through food production or as a corridor where agricultural products pass through,” Villafuerte noted.
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