DTI lauds House committee approval of proposed Clark National Food Hub Act | Department of Trade and Industry Philippines

Quezon City, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) welcomed the House Committee on Trade and Industry’s approval of the House Bill No. 10678, also known as the Clark National Food Hub (CNFH) Act. This bill aims to establish a major food hub in Clark, Pampanga to improve food security, enhance supply chain efficiency, and promote economic growth.

“With the CNFH Act, we lay the groundwork for the Clark National Food Hub—a pioneering initiative poised to revolutionize food distribution in the Philippines,” said DTI Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco.

“This pioneering hub can serve blueprint for developing similar food hubs throughout the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao,” she added.

Undersecretary Pacheco emphasized that the establishment of the food hub aligns with the DTI’s Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda.

The agenda seeks to revolutionize the Philippines’ food distribution system, reduce transport and logistics costs, increase investments in logistics infrastructure on transportation and storage, and address other supply chain gaps.

Meanwhile, Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez acknowledged the DTI’s unwavering commitment to ensuring accessible, affordable, and available food for every Filipino.

The House Committee on Trade and Industry, chaired by Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron, approved the bill after a deliberation held on August 20. The bill’s principal authors are Representatives Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro), Maria Angela Garcia (3rd District, Bataan), and Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon (3rd District, Leyte).

The DTI is set to participate in the CNFH Technical Working Group, focusing on key areas such as policy development, business integration, and inter-agency cooperation.

The approved bill builds upon the memorandum of understanding signed on February 19 between the DTI, the Department of Agriculture and the Clark International Airport Corporation, aimed at realizing the farm-to-fork strategy of the DTI.

It encompasses provisions for creating a nationwide a hub-and-spoke trading network, establishing food safety and quality standards, and promoting agro-processing and value-adding activities within Clark Freeport Zone.

Moreover, the bill aligns with the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a “Bagong Pilipinas” where streamlined supply chains and enhanced export capabilities build a robust and accessible food supply for every Filipino. ♦

Date of release: 30 August 2024

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