DA to build mega food hubs in Luzon by 2026, eyes national rollout

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing forward with plans to construct two mega food hubs by 2026, taking inspiration from Thailand’s large-scale agricultural trading centers to improve food distribution and price stability across the Philippines.

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said on Wednesday that the initiative, recently presented to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aims to bridge the gap between farmgate and retail prices by creating centralized hubs for trade, storage, and logistics.

“The President initially agreed on these concepts,” De Mesa said during a press briefing, adding that the model was partly inspired by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s recent visit to Thailand, where food hubs span up to 80 hectares and serve as vital channels for farm produce.

The first hub is planned for Clark, Pampanga, covering 30 to 50 hectares, and will cater to agricultural goods from Northern Luzon. The second will rise in Quezon province on a 20 to 30-hectare site, serving Southern Luzon and Bicol.

Estimated to cost between P3 billion to P7 billion, the two facilities are expected to begin construction early next year. Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), a government-owned corporation, will manage operations.

“These food hubs will provide a system where pricing is transparent and fair—protecting both farmers and consumers,” De Mesa explained. “We aim to eliminate the disconnect that often causes inflated retail prices despite low farmgate rates.”

The DA also revealed plans to expand cold storage infrastructure nationwide, with an estimated P3 billion allocated to build 99 new facilities. This is expected to reduce postharvest losses, extend shelf life, and help stabilize supply and prices of key agricultural commodities.

Strategic sites across Visayas and Mindanao are also under consideration for future food hubs, signaling a broader goal of creating a nationwide network to improve agricultural efficiency and food security.

“We are looking at this as a long-term solution,” De Mesa added, citing the potential of these hubs to streamline the country’s supply chain and reduce inflationary pressures linked to food prices.