BOI holds regional cold chain roadshows in Cebu, Davao, and Pampanga

Aiming to grow investments in cold chain to increase warehousing capacity in the

Philippines, BOI holds regional cold chain roadshows in Cebu, Davao, and

Pampanga.

In an aim to grow investments in the country’s cold chain industry that is seen to eventually

increase the cold chain warehousing capacity nationally, the Philippine Board of

Investments (BOI) is holding a series of Supra-Regional Cold Chain Industry Roadshows

initially in three major regions of the country from October to November 2022 and the rest of

the other regions next year.

Described as inclusive, stakeholder-driven, and market-oriented, the Philippine Cold Chain

Industry Roadmap eyes to increase local cold chain warehousing capacity by 50,000 pallet

positions each year in the short term by generating investments in the industry and address

the increasing demand, particularly in the agribusiness sector.

The first leg was held in Mandaue City in Cebu on October 12. The subsequent roadshows

will be held in Davao City on October 25, and Clark in Pampanga on November 9.

The Cebu-round covered those coming from Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central

Visayas), and 8 (Eastern Visayas). The Pampanga-round, meanwhile, will cover

participating firms from Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley Region), 3 (Central

Luzon Region), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) . On the other hand, the Davao

roadshow will include Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao Region), and 12 or South

Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City

(SOCCSKSARGEN region).

During the roadshows, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) will provide

the regional economic situation, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will present the

Agriculture and Fisheries Performance and Cold Chain services needs while Land Bank of

the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines will present financing

opportunities. Also, initiatives of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization

(UNIDO) through its Food Cold Chain (FCC) Project specifically the Cold Chain Innovation

Hub will be discussed.

A significant part of each roadshow is the one-on-one consultation between the prospective

investors and the BOI, DA, UNIDO, LBP, and DBP.

The roadshows are BOI’s platform to inform prospective investors on the recent

legislative/policy developments such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for

Enterprises (CREATE) Act and the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) and

amendment of the Public Service Act (PSA) that liberalized foreign equity participation in

cold storage warehousing activities.

Significantly, the development of the country’s cold chain industry will lead to reduced post-

harvest losses, longer shelf life of food, a deeper linkage of the production and

manufacturing sectors, and deeper integration with the domestic and global value chains.

FOR MORE INFORMATION/REFERENCE, PLEASE CONTACT:

BOI Information and Communications Division

Office Address: 3/F Board of Investment Bldg. #385 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City 1209

Telephones: 8897.3086 / 8897-6682 local 277 | E-mail: infocomms@boi.gov.ph

PR2022-090

Moreover, the roadshows will not only result in leads in generation for the cold chain but will

also be critical in meeting the BOI’s target to generate new cold chain capacity to serve

particularly the agribusiness sector.

The BOI is focused on the development of the country’s cold chain industry. Last February,

the BOI, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and InsightSCS Corp. signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a cold chain integrated supply chain

solution in the Philippines – the “Development of a Cold Chain Integrated Supply Chain

Solution for Evidence-based Policy Making and Investment Programming.” The said

partnership aims to utilize data analytics to identify best locations for prospective cold chain

projects and digitally onboard cold chain operators through the DELIVER-E 2.0 platform.

Cockfighting Banned in Philippine Region Hit by Bird Flu

At least 300 soldiers sent in to assist in the culling of chicken, quail and ducks in Pampanga

Published: 14:23 August 17, 2017

Barbara Mae Dacanay, Correspondent

 

Manila: Authorities have banned cockfighting for two weeks in the central Philippine province of Luzon, where 37,000 birds have been killed by the avian flu virus on 36 farms since May.

“All cockfighting stadiums were ordered closed in five villages in three towns of Mexico, San Luis and Santa Ana — which were identified within a seven-kilometre quarantine zone in Pampanga,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told Gulf News.

“H5 avian influenza initially hit farms only in San Carlos and Sta Rita villages of San Luis town, a ground zero located within one-kilometre quarantine zone of Pampanga,” he added.

The move was necessary to stop the spread of H5 virus in central and northern Luzon, Piñol said on Thursday.

He noted that Filipinos are avid cockfighting bettors.

“The agriculture department has also asked the Philippine army to assist in culling 600,000 birds within Pampanga’s seven-kilometre controlled area, higher than the estimated 200,000 birds found in ground zero,” said Piñol, adding, “It’s a no mean job.”

“Some 36 farms owners within the seven-kilometre quarantine zone have surrendered their fowls for depopulation process. At the same time, some owners whose farms are a kilometre outside of the seven-kilometre controlled area have also offered their farms for depopulation process to stop the spread of bird flu. I view this as a patriotic act,” said Piñol.

Explaining the strategy, Piñol said, “Once we have depopulated birds within the seven kilometre controlled area, that means the periphery areas are clean, chances of the virus spreading will be reduced. That would serve as a buffer zone from our ground zero.”

He promised to ask President Rodrigo Duterte to release P52.8 million (Dh4.48 million) to compensate affected farm owners.

Brigadier General Rodel Mairo Alarcon said that 300 soldiers were sent to assist in the culling of chicken, quail and ducks in Pampanga on Thursday.

To protect their health, they were given Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), said Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag.

Two farm workers who had flu-like symptoms turned negative for bird flu. No case of bird flu’s transmission to human has been recorded yet as of August 17, Tayag reported.

A total of 73,110 layered chickens, cocks, fighting cocks, and native chickens have been culled since last week. A poultry owner reported the death of at least 15,000 quail birds in San Carlos village in April and May. The disease has initially killed a total of 37.000 fowls since that time.

Bird flu viruses have spread in Europe and Africa in recent months. The H7N9 strain has led to transmission to human cases, including fatalities, in China.