MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said its plan to establish a mega cold storage facility and other solar cold storage facilities across the country will help prevent local food wastage.
In a phone interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said this will be realized with the utilization of the newly approved PHP1.5-billion unprogrammed fund.
“Ito na talaga yung hinihintay natin na magawa para maayos iyong problema ng (This is what we’ve been waiting for to fix our problems in the) post-harvest losses,” he said.
“Of course, kung cold storage yan, definitely makakatulong yun na ma-preserve, mapatagal yung shelf-life ng mga agri-produce mo (if that’s a cold storage, it will definitely help preserve and extend the shelf-life of your agri-produce), thereby reducing yung mga wastage losses,” de Mesa added.
While the DA has yet to disclose the target areas and regions for the establishment of the facilities, de Mesa said these would also help ensure the good quality of agri commodities for the Kadiwa sites.
He, meanwhile, said the PHP1.5-billion fund is a budgetary supplement given to the DA in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to advance food security.
“One mega structure and several cold storages na i-install sa iba't-ibang lugar (to be installed in different areas). Since this is (an) unprogrammed fund, it has to be obligated within the year and can be implemented, we will be given, until next year to finish and spend,” de Mesa said.
The procurement process may also start within the year once the fund is released in the last quarter of this year, he added. (PNA)
