Philippines Agribusiness Food Distribution Infrastructure Modernization
The Clark National Food Hub in the Philippines opens major opportunities for U.S. agribusiness and logistics firms in food security, infrastructure, and tech.
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to establish the Clark National Food Hub. The Clark National Food Hub offers significant opportunities for U.S. companies in agribusiness and logistics to expand market presence, modernize infrastructure, and introduce global best practices in food handling, processing, and supply chain management.
The Philippines faces distinct challenges in ensuring equal access to affordable and nutritious food across its many islands. In many rural areas, bagsakan centers are common; these are unregulated marketplaces blending wholesale and retail operations for agricultural and related products. However, these bagsakan centers often lead to high consumer prices, low profit margins for farmers, and inefficiencies due to intermediaries and transaction irregularities thus lack of transparency also compromises food quality and safety.
To address these issues, the Clark National Food Hub is envisioned as a modern, centralized facility for the storage, processing, and distribution of agricultural commodities, strategically located—modeled after international benchmarks such as the Rungis International Market in France, Mercabarna Food Hub in Spain, and Tsukiji Fish Market in Japan.
Philippine Investment Priority on ensuring food security
Secretary Frederick Go, the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, has reiterated the country’s commitment to advancing agribusiness trade and investment. This initiative is also aligned with the Tri-Country Steering Committee between the Philippines, the United States, and Japan, focusing on infrastructure development along the Luzon Economic Corridor—covering strategic areas such as Subic Bay, Clark, Batangas, and Manila.
Passage of House Bill 10678 by the Philippine Senate formally establishes the Food Hub. It is designed to serve as a primary platform for farmers, cooperatives, and private sector players to directly supply agricultural goods to wholesalers, retailers, the hospitality industry, and other end users—cutting out intermediaries and improving traceability and standards.
The Clark National Food Hub presents robust opportunities for U.S. companies in both the agribusiness and logistics sectors, to increase connectivity, update infrastructure, and upskill workers, including:
- Development of agro-industrial and logistics infrastructure
- Cold chain and cold storage facilities
- Halal-certified food processing facilities
- Transport and warehousing solutions
- Supply of technology and equipment
- Food handling and processing equipment
- Food safety and traceability technologies
- Smart agricultural logistics solutions
- Capacity building and technical assistance
- Partnerships in agricultural education, food safety training, and post-harvest management
- Support in establishing the best international practices for standardized transactions within food hubs
For more information on agribusiness opportunities in the Philippines, contact Katrina Domingo at Katrina.Domingo@trade.gov.