Partners for Clark food facility sought

State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority is seeking private sector partners to put up the Food Processing and Cold Storage Center within a 3,000-hectare block at the Clark Green City in Pampanga.

BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said in a briefing that this proposed area is expected to help spur the modernization of agriculture in Luzon, as the Clark Green City is being envisioned to promote inclusive growth and global competitiveness in this sector.

According to Casanova, the proposed center, which should have been part of the Phase 2 development of the Clark Green City, will house urban farms, cold storage equipment and other necessary facilities that could help modernize Philippine agriculture.

This site is reportedly ideal as the 9,450-hectare Green City is within a highly strategic location, given the availability of crucial infrastructure in and around the area such as the seaport in Subic, airport in Clark, and the four tollways, namely, the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and eventually the Central Luzon Expressway.

Casanova explained that the different components in the center will be offered under a public private partnership mode, under which the BCDA is expected to form joint ventures with the winning proponents.

For now, the BCDA has allocated some $1.7 million to fund the conduct of the feasibility study for the proposed Food Processing and Cold Storage Center and financial closing.

Once completed, the center is seen to “empower farmers who will be equipped with much better knowledge and facilities to produce better crops and earn higher incomes using the expressways, Clark International Airport and the Subic seaport to transport their goods both locally and internationally.”