State-owned Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) said the planned national food hub in Pampanga would position the Philippines as a leading agribusiness and logistics center in the Asia Pacific.

In a statement, Arrey Perez, CIAC president and chief executive officer, said the proposed legislation establishing the food hub at the Clark civil aviation complex would greatly benefit the agricultural sector and support the country’s overall growth.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the House Committee on Trade and Industry unanimously approved House Bill 10678, also known as "An Act Establishing the Clark National Food Hub, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes." 

Cagayan de Oro Second District Representative Rufus Rodriguez, who is among the authors of the bill, said the measure would address the country's food security concerns by effectively streamlining the food distribution process.

“Establishing a national food hub in Clark will play a crucial role in shortening the supply chain from producer to consumer (and) will not only standardize logistics but also ensure the efficient movement of food products, thereby enhancing overall efficiency,” Rodriguez said. 

“The initiative is further reinforced by the Philippines’ development plan, which includes food security measures (and so) the Clark national food hub is designed to achieve these objectives for the Filipino people,” he added.

The bill mandates the CIAC to oversee the development, functioning, and supervision of the civil aviation complex encompassing the Clark International Airports and the location designated for the establishment of the 62-hectare national food hub.

“As soon as this proposal becomes a law, it will bolster agrologistics as support to our country’s robust agricultural production,” Perez said.

“It will also enhance freight transport services, mobility, and access to key economic zones, toward seamless logistics and efficient supply chains.  This means higher farm productivity and sustained agribusiness, and higher income for Filipino farmers,” he added.

President Marcos, alongside U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, initiated a steering committee earlier this year. 

The committee aims to facilitate infrastructure development along the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), with a focus on enhancing connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas.

Secretary Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs who chairs the LEC committee, has identified food and agriculture as one of the priority industries for investments.

“We continue to pursue initiatives that contribute to increasing agriculture production, and improving the food logistical chain. The Clark National Food Hub is a step in this direction, and we look forward to its successful establishment as a sustainable food security solution,” Go said.

Perez said that the project aims to tackle concerns about food security and logistics costs by offering reliable, sustainable, and updated solutions for meeting the demand and distributing agricultural products from Luzon to both local and international markets.

The approved proposal will be directed to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Ways and Means for the funding and tax incentives sections.

Key elements of the Clark National Food Hub comprise advanced food storage warehouses, cold storage facilities, processing plants, administrative headquarters, logistics infrastructure, and wholesale and retail market areas.