#ATSNews | The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Regional Field Office XII gathered key stakeholders from Visayas and Mindanao for the Consultative Meeting for Visayas and Mindanao Cluster: Cold Storage Expansion Project held on February 10-12, 2025. The 3-day meeting, conducted in General Santos City, aimed to finalize the guidelines for the efficient and effective implementation of the cold storage facility program.
DA-RFO XII Regional Executive Director Roberto Perales highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating, “This cold storage expansion embodies the future of agriculture. This is a promise that no effort, no harvest, and no community will be left behind.”
DA Assistant Secretary for Logistics Daniel Alfonso Atayde, on the other hand, also emphasized broader agricultural plans, including food hubs and Agri ports, with General Santos identified as on the key recipients. “We can’t do that if we don’t focus on helping our farmers first, and we need you to help us in helping them,” Atayde stated.
DA OASL Planning Officer Teodoro Jose Angelo Quirino, on the other hand, presented the implementing guidelines, engineering designs, and program of works, ensuring stakeholders’ awareness of the project’s scope. In addition to the discussions, DA officials visited MBX Grape Vineyard, the City Food Terminal Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CFTEMCO), and the Mindanao Fresh Water Fish Technology Center in Cotabato Province to observe existing agricultural facilities and initiatives firsthand.
Cold storage infrastructure is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring food safety, reducing waste, and supporting economic growth in the region.
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