Feasibility update expected for Clark food hub this year

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) is set to release updated feasibility studies for a food trading hub in Clark City later this year. The project aims to streamline food distribution processes by providing wholesalers and retailers easier access to produce, eliminating the need to travel to Metro Manila.

The feasibility study review is being conducted in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with the terms of reference for the $152-million food hub also under scrutiny.

The Clark National Food Terminal project, slated for a 64-hectare site within the Clark Civil Aviation Complex, seeks to integrate various facilities essential for food storage, processing, and distribution.

These include cold storage units, research and quality control centers, warehousing, and international shipping services. Additionally, the hub will offer marketing services and trading opportunities for both domestic and foreign markets.

CIAC aims to initiate the public tender process for the food hub next year, with the possibility of awarding the project by the third or fourth quarter of 2025.

Furthermore, plans include connecting the hub to a railway system linked to Subic port, enhancing logistics access for producers across Luzon.

The proximity to cargo companies like FedEx and UPS, along with satellite agri-trading hubs, further strengthens the strategic positioning of the food hub, facilitating seamless product distribution nationwide and beyond.