PILI, CAMARINES SUR — A P500-million cold storage facility is nearing completion in this Bicol town, promising to reshape farm incomes, stabilize food supply, and anchor a regional food logistics hub, officials said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund “L-Ray” Villafuerte Jr. inspected the facility on Wednesday ahead of its planned opening by late February or early March, following construction delays caused by typhoons and weather disruptions last year.

“We are here to drive this game-changing project forward,” Tiu Laurel said. “This investment strengthens food security, creates jobs, attracts agri-investments, and—most importantly—raises incomes of farmers, fishers, and everyone in the agriculture value chain across Bicol and neighboring regions.”

Villafuerte thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Agriculture for supporting what he described as the largest and most modern cold storage facility in the region. “We’re working double time to finish this as soon as possible,” he said, noting that recent storms had slowed construction but not momentum.

The facility houses six refrigerated warehouses with a combined 2,688 pallet positions and can store about 4,600 metric tons of boxed meat or 3,000 metric tons of vegetables at full capacity. It is equipped with a blast freezer, processing and packing areas, and a solar power system to cut electricity costs and improve efficiency.

“This won’t just serve Camarines Sur,” Villafuerte said. “It will support the entire Bicol region, the Visayas, and even Mindanao.” He noted that much of the produce from the Visayas and Mindanao already passes through the province en route to Metro Manila and other Luzon markets, making Camarines Sur a natural logistics node.

By reducing post-harvest losses and smoothing supply flows, the facility is expected to help stabilize food prices while shielding farmers and fishers from sharp market swings. Its long-term impact will depend on efficient management, affordable user fees, and strong linkages with traders and institutional buyers.

Tiu Laurel said the Department of Agriculture has earmarked another P500 million for a complementary food hub, with development expected to begin in June and run for about 12 months. The hub will provide trading and distribution facilities to complete the province’s emerging food system.

“With a complete food system in place, our farmers and fisherfolk can access higher-value markets and even export,” Tiu Laurel said. “That means more income, more jobs, and greater food security.”