The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to build around 99 cold storage facilities starting this year to help extend the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and high-value crops as well as ensure supply and price stability. A total P3 billion has been allocated by DA for the project which should help reduce farmers’ losses and boost food security. Secretary Tiu Laurel said the use of P1.5 billion in unprogrammed funds in 2024 to kick start the development of the cold storage network had been approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., while another P1.5 billion was included by the DA in the General Appropriations Act for 2025.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to roll out a P3-billion initiative to construct 99 cold storage facilities nationwide, aiming to extend the shelf life of fruits, vegetables and high-value crops, while ensuring price stability and food security. President Marcos has approved the use of P1.5 billion in unprogrammed funds for 2024 to initiate the project, while another P1.5 billion is allocated in the 2025 General Appropriations Act. “The unprogrammed funds will be spent to build around 65 small or modular chiller-type cold storage facilities across the country and a large cold storage facility to be built in Camarines Sur,” Tiu Laurel said.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has allocated P3 billion to establish a network of cold storage facilities at 99 locations this year. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has approved the use of P1.5 billion in unprogrammed funds for 2024 to initiate the development while the agency allocated another P1.5 billion through the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA). THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is allocating P3 billion for 99 cold-storage facilities to extend the shelf life of fruits, vegetables and high-value crops, and assure continuous supply and food security.

A bidding document from DA Regional Field Office No. 5 for "Design, Build and Supply of Mega Cold Storage Facility in San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur under the Cold Storage Expansion Project" states that the office "intends to apply the sum of Five Hundred Million Pesos (Php500,000,000.00) being the ABC to payments under the contract for ITB No. 2025-PB-01." The document notes that this is funded through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024 Continuing Fund and is part of the DA "Cold Storage Expansion Project," linking the facility to the wider nationwide expansion program.

An official DA press release on an inspection of an ongoing mega cold storage facility in Pili, Camarines Sur describes a "P500-million cold storage facility—a major infrastructure project of the Department of Agriculture (DA)." It states that the Camarines Sur facility "is part of a nationwide network of mega and modular cold storage complexes that the DA is rolling out" and notes that "over 100 modular cold storage units will be deployed to various farming communities across the country." This press release provides context that the large regional facility is embedded in a nationally distributed cold storage program.

The DA has earmarked P3 billion to construct around 99 cold storage facilities beginning this year. These refrigerated warehouses will incorporate hybrid systems capable of running on both renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as well as electricity from the main power grid. Tiu Laurel said the network of facilities is expected to improve regional aggregation, streamline food distribution, and enhance market access by connecting producers directly with consumers.

Republic Act No. 8435, the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, includes provisions for post-harvest facilities such as "ice plants and cold storage" as part of modernizing agriculture and fisheries. The law appropriated "Twenty billion pesos (P20,000,000,000)" for the first year of implementation and specifies that ten percent (10%) of this amount is for post-harvest facilities, with authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to invest up to fifty percent (50%) of that share in post-harvest facilities. This statute establishes a legal framework and funding authority for government investments in cold storage infrastructure.

Top Story: The Agriculture Department is allocating three billion pesos for the construction of nearly 100 cold storage facilities. The project aims to build cold storage facilities for vegetables and high-value crops in different parts of the country. Officials say the initiative is part of efforts to boost food security and stabilize prices by reducing post-harvest losses.

A news post from DA Regional Field Office III reports the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for a mega cold storage facility with integrated solar energy system in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. It notes that this project "will be implemented under the FY 2025 Locally Funded Projects (LFPs)" and that the facility "has a total cost of ₱493,288,154.00" with a 270-day contract duration. DA Assistant Secretary for Logistics Daniel Alfonso N. Atayde is quoted emphasizing that this is the first mega cold storage to be built in Central Luzon and that it is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilize prices, and ensure food security, indicating ongoing implementation of large-scale cold storage projects tied to national programs.

To extend the shelf life of agricultural produce and stabilize market prices, the DA has allocated PHP3 billion for the development of 99 cold storage facilities, prioritizing underserved areas such as Camarines Sur, Nueva Ecija, Occidental Mindoro, and other remote provinces. Government intervention, through the Department of Agriculture’s PHP 3-billion cold storage initiative, is reinforcing infrastructure in underserved provinces, while private sector leaders are scaling aggressively. The program aims to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food security nationwide.

A regional DA Bicol article reports that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally opened the Bicol Mega Cold Storage facility, described as "the very first completed project in the country under the DA Cold Storage Expansion Program" led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. The piece emphasizes that the facility is part of the DA Cold Storage Expansion Program, which aims to expand cold storage capacity nationwide to support farmers and improve food security, linking the local project to the broader national allocation program.

A 2022 article from the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) notes that the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) "already obligated PhP4.3 billion or 100% of its annual allocation for the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Program" as of June 30, 2022. The program "covers the rehabilitation, improvement, and upgrading of fish ports" as well as "construction of a cold storage facility in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; and fish port construction in Taguig City, Manila." This shows prior multi-billion-peso government allocations including cold storage facilities, providing background to the DA’s more recent P3-billion allocation for a broader cold storage network.

The Philippine Cold Chain Roadmap launched in 2020 aims to increase the country’s current cold storage capacity by 10% to 15% annually, or an additional 50,000 pallets annually. There are 151 Department of Agriculture–accredited cold storage warehouses, most of which are in Metro Manila (National Capital Region) with 45, Central Luzon with 30, and Calabarzon with 24. The roadmap identifies infrastructure gaps and investment opportunities in expanding cold storage facilities nationwide to support the agriculture and food sectors.

A project document from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) describes "PROJECT 6 (CODE: CF-6) – Establishment of Cold Storage with Blast Freezer Facilities" in "Zamboanga City (west coast) and Dipolog City, and other strategic areas in the country." The total project cost is given as "PhP 810.0 million." This illustrates that the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies have previously budgeted hundreds of millions of pesos for cold storage infrastructure in multiple locations, consistent with a broader strategy of investing heavily in cold chain facilities.

The Philippines Cold Chain Project, supported by USDA and implemented by Winrock International, improved handling, storage and distribution for perishable products, boosting farmer incomes while making food systems more resilient and efficient. The project worked with cold storage providers and producer groups to strengthen cold chain logistics for agricultural products in the Philippines.

The Department of Agriculture holds a groundbreaking ceremony for a new cold storage facility in Angat, Bulacan. Officials highlight the role of new cold storage infrastructure in helping farmers preserve their harvest and in reducing post-harvest losses. The project is presented as part of broader efforts to expand cold chain capacity in the country.

A document listing "Accredited Cold Storage Warehouses" as of September 30, 2025 is published by BFAR. While primarily a registry of facilities, its existence demonstrates that as of late 2025, there is a sizable network of cold storage warehouses accredited by a DA-attached agency nationwide, suggesting significant infrastructural development in cold storage consistent with the DA's stated cold storage expansion program and multi-billion peso allocations.

Provide affordable and energy efficient cold storage services for small and medium farmers close to farming areas for perishable agricultural products (meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables). The Philippine Cold Chain Roadmap launched in 2020 aims to increase the country’s current cold storage capacity by 10% to 15% annually, or an additional 50,000 pallets annually to satisfy rising demand or about USD 16 million revenue annually. Investment in agricultural cold storage is expected to increase the country’s current cold storage capacity by 10% to 15% annually.

In a recent briefing, Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel detailed the Department of Agriculture’s plan to roll out a nationwide network of cold storage facilities funded by a PHP 3-billion allocation. The network, which will consist of nearly 100 facilities, is expected to start operations in phases beginning this year. Laurel emphasized that the initiative is part of the administration’s broader push to strengthen the agricultural value chain and ensure year-round availability of key commodities.

A presentation on "CY-2024 and 2025 Accomplishments" from DA Region I notes that, "To date, the DA Region I has a total of 14 approved infrastructure sub-projects amounting to PhP 2,089,496,037.18" under the PRDP Scale-up. Among the listed projects is "Bayambang Onion Cold Storage" with a total amount of "318,958,000.00" pesos. This regional breakdown indicates that substantial funds are being allocated to cold storage projects at the regional level, aligning with national-level statements about multi-billion-peso investments in cold storage infrastructure.

The Department of Agriculture’s latest cold chain program involves a PHP 3-billion budget for the establishment of approximately 99 cold storage facilities throughout the country. These facilities are intended to serve as critical links between farmers and markets, helping to preserve produce and smooth out seasonal fluctuations in supply. The DA expects that the added capacity will significantly cut waste and improve incomes for producers.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan is calling for an investigation into the use of cold storage following concerns raised by the agriculture sector on limited access to such facilities. Pangilinan said there were reports that imported goods were crowding out local produce and affecting farmers’ ability to store their harvest, potentially increasing post-harvest losses. He urged authorities to review cold storage utilization and ensure that facilities are accessible to local farmers.

The Philippine Cold Chain Roadmap launched in 2020 sets targets to increase nationwide cold storage capacity by 10–15% annually. It outlines the need for additional agricultural cold storage facilities near production areas to support small and medium farmers and reduce post-harvest losses. The roadmap has informed subsequent government and private investment initiatives in the cold chain sector, including later funding allocations for new DA-accredited warehouses.