๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ณ โ President Ferdinand โBongbongโ Marcos Jr., together with Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco โKikoโ Tiu Laurel Jr. and Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund โLrayโ Villafuerte, Jr., visited and inspected the Fruits and Vegetables Processing Plant and the Bicol Mega Cold Storage Facility located in San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur on March 23, 2026.
During his visit, President Marcos highlighted the importance of empowering farmers through better organization and participation in decision-making. He noted that facilities such as cold storage and processing centers should be managed at the local level to ensure that added value directly benefits producers. By decentralizing storage systems and improving access to agricultural inputs, the government aims to build a more efficient and farmer-centered agricultural sector.
The officials toured the ๐ณ.๐ฑ-๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ , which houses the Fruits and Vegetables Processing Plant, Bio-Fertilizer Plant, Coconut Processing Plant, Bicol Mega Food Terminal, and the Bicol Mega Cold Storage Facility, and support facilities.
The ๐๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ enables producers to move beyond raw commodities into higher-value processed products. Currently, the plant has facilities to operate a calamansi and mango puree line, along with processing lines for sweet potato (kamote) and ube.
The ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น ๐ ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐, meanwhile, addresses gaps in agricultural support systems, including delays in input delivery and the lack of accessible storage infrastructure. It features six cold storage units for chicken, seafood, beef, pork, fruits, and vegetables, with a total cold storage capacity of 2,668 pallets or 1,344,000 kg. of goods. By extending the shelf life of perishable goods, the facility helps reduce spoilage, stabilize supply, and improve market timingโultimately increasing farmersโ incomes while helping ensure more stable food prices for consumers.
The visit also marked the launch of the ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ in the province. Under the initiative, the Provincial Government will rework phased-out jeepneys into mobile markets to be positioned across municipalities, allowing farmers to sell directly to consumers at more affordable prices while reducing reliance on middlemen.
During the visit and inspection, President Marcos and Sec. Tiu were also able to get a taste of the ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฎ, ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฎ, and ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฎ, value-added beverages being produced in the food complex.
An ๐จ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ was also conducted by the DA Regional Office V, bringing together farmersโ and fisherfolk associations from Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Albay for a dialogue with the agencyโs banner program focal persons.
Source: Province of Camarines Sur