The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the provincial government of Bukidnon will jointly invest ₱1.97 billion to build a large-scale food hub that aims to strengthen the agricultural value chain in Northern Mindanao.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has signed a memorandum of understanding with provincial governor Rogelio Neil Roque to develop the Bukidnon Food Hub (BFH) in the town of Manolo Fortich.

“For a long time, Mindanao has been regarded as the land of promise. This food hub that we will build in Bukidnon, a rich agricultural center, is a step toward the realization of that promise—not only for Mindanaoans but for the entire nation,” said Tiu Laurel in a statement.

The BFH, which will be built on a 41-hectare site, is planned for a phased development over the next three years.

The food center will feature modern post-harvest and processing infrastructure, including cold storage and dry warehouses, dryers and dehydrators, an ice plant, and processing centers.

It will also host a poultry processing plant, wholesale food market platforms, transport and handling bays, commercial spaces, water systems, standby power, and waste-treatment facilities.

The government is building this facility to consolidate high-value crops and other key commodities from major producing towns and move them through reliable transport linkages.

Situated just outside Cagayan de Oro, the BFH will give farmers a direct route to both domestic and export markets through the nearby Laguindingan International Airport and the port of Cagayan de Oro.

Tiu Laurel said the project is also expected to reduce logistics costs, minimize post-harvest losses, stabilize supply chains, generate new jobs, and open new income streams for farmers.

He also said that this will scale up agribusiness ventures, expand farmers’ access to credit, and raise overall productivity.

“This project is a game changer—a transformative investment that will strengthen Northern Mindanao’s agricultural competitiveness, support national food security goals, and spur private-sector investments,” he added.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that Bukidnon was the top contributor to the country’s ₱1.78-trillion worth of agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AFF) output in 2024.

The province contributed ₱129.03 billion in the year, accounting for a 7.3 percent share.

Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel also signed a letter of commitment with the local government of Misamis Oriental to develop a former tobacco processing facility into a food-processing and innovation hub,

With an initial ₱500 million investment from the DA, the project will include a corn silo system, embryo culture for coconut, cold-storage facilities, value-adding centers for high-value crops, and a potato-processing line.