Cebu Mega Food Hub may be rolled out this year

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The proposed Cebu Mega Food Hub could begin taking shape this year as the Department of Agriculture (DA) moves toward implementing the long-planned facility in Naga City.

The province is waiting for the DA’s implementation plan after the agency inspected the government property intended for the project last month, Provincial Administrator Joseph “Ace” Durano said.

“It has already been inspected by the Department of Agriculture. We are now waiting for their next steps,” Durano told reporters.

Durano said the DA has allocated funds for the project’s initial implementation this year, with the rollout still subject to the required bidding process.

Once developed, the food hub is expected to provide centralized facilities for storing, handling, trading, and distributing agricultural products, particularly through cold storage and post-harvest services.

The facility is also envisioned as a major link between farmers and markets, helping address food losses and weaknesses in Cebu’s agricultural supply chain.

Improving food security

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has backed the project as part of the province’s efforts to improve food security and strengthen connections between producers, buyers, and consumers.

Speaking at the 19th Philippine National Corn Congress on Wednesday, August 12, Baricuatro said the provincial government is prioritizing food security through better market access and post-harvest support.

“This is also part of the vision behind our planned Mega Food Hub in Cebu—to connect our farmers to markets and create better opportunities for processing, storage, distribution, and ultimately, better incomes,” she said.

“We want to connect our farms to our Food Hub, our farmers to buyers, and production to real economic opportunity,” she added.

Baricuatro earlier said Cebu has only four refrigerated storage units, highlighting the need for additional facilities to properly preserve agricultural products.

She said the limited cold storage capacity contributes to food losses and leaves farmers with fewer options for handling their produce after harvest.

The proposed hub, described as the first major facility of its kind outside Luzon, is expected to expand Cebu’s capacity to store and move agricultural goods within and beyond the province.

Expanding Cebu’s corn industry

The provincial government is also seeking to strengthen Cebu’s position in the country’s corn industry by increasing production in areas with suitable farmland and established markets.

Baricuatro urged the Philippine Maize Federation Inc., the DA, private businesses, and farmers to coordinate with the provincial government in developing the province’s corn sector.

The effort is expected to complement the proposed food hub by improving the links among agricultural production, processing, storage, and market distribution.

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