State-run Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) is ramping up the construction of mega food hubs and regional food terminals across the country worth PHP20 billion in a major logistics push aimed at getting more food from farms to markets faster, cutting waste and bringing down prices for consumers.
FTI President Joseph Lo said these projects require PHP20 billion and several years to fully complete. However, many of these projects will start operating before the end of the Marcos administration, he added.
The Department of Agriculture (DA)-attached firm said the nationwide network forms a key pillar of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s food security agenda by modernizing the country’s fragmented food supply chain while opening bigger markets for farmers and fisherfolk.
“We are building the backbone of a modern food distribution system,” FTI President Joseph Lo said. “By connecting production areas directly to markets through integrated food hubs and cold chain facilities, we can reduce logistics costs, minimize post-harvest losses and deliver fresher, more affordable food to Filipino families.”
FTI is developing five Mega Food Hubs in Clark in Pampanga, Tiaong in Quezon, Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon, Camarines Sur and Cebu, complemented by 16 Regional Food Terminals nationwide. The Commonwealth Market will also be integrated into the network, creating a unified logistics system equipped with cold storage, trading facilities and modern distribution centers.
A Mega KADIWA Food Hub in Taguig is on track for completion by October 2026, while Regional Food Hubs in Cebu and Lingayen are being operationalized to strengthen the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program by improving storage and distribution efficiency.
Preparatory work for the Clark Mega Food Hub is also moving ahead. Before construction begins, the project site will undergo soil testing and safety inspections to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordinance, a necessary step before full development.
The expanding infrastructure complements FTI’s KADIWA ng Pangulo Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! program, which now operates in 807 sites nationwide. KADIWA has sold more than 120,992 metric tons of agricultural products, creating wider market access for farmers, fisherfolk and food producers while giving consumers more affordable options.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the food hubs are critical investments that will make the country’s food system more efficient and inclusive. “These projects are about raising farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes while lowering the cost of food for Filipino consumers. By strengthening logistics and connecting producers directly to markets, we are building a food system that benefits everyone from the farm to the dining table,” he said.
As the network expands, FTI is positioning itself as the logistics backbone of the DA’s food security strategy, helping build a faster, smarter and more resilient supply chain that keeps food moving efficiently across the country.
