Officials from the Philippine government met recently with Dutch officials to acquire the best practices relevant to establishing the Clark National Food Hub.
The Philippine delegation particularly aimed to learn from Dutch stakeholders how to shape the Clark National Food Hub’s development and foster partnerships for agricultural and logistics investments.
During the meeting in The Hague, the delegation, led by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco, together with Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez, Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President Arrey Perez, reiterated the Philippine government’s commitment to food security.
“The goal is to ensure a more efficient supply chain that will make food accessible, available, and affordable for the Filipino. The best way to do that is to learn from the best,” Undersecretary Pacheco explained.
In August 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda presented by DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual that sought to revolutionize the food distribution network. The establishment of a National Food Hub in Clark is an actualization of the plan.
Representative Rodriguez stressed, “Establishing a National Food Hub holds immense potential benefits; from enhancing food security and stabilizing prices to promoting economic growth and fostering social stability.”
The delegation was received by Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya, while Commercial Counsellor Magnolia Misolas-Ashley facilitated the discussions with the Dutch officials led by Director-General for Foreign Economic Relations Michiel Sweers, together with Deputy Director Jules Gerzon, and Special Agriculture Envoy Frederik Vossenaar.
“The Netherlands—as the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural and agriculture-related products, and consistently recognized as a premier logistics hotspot in Europe, consistently ranking high at the World Bank Logistics Performance Index—is an ideal partner for this endeavor,” Ambassador Malaya noted.
Highlighting the Netherlands’ robust agricultural sector and innovative agrologistics capabilities, Director-General Sweers said, “As a center of excellence in trade facilitation and technological innovation in the world, you are in the right place.” Dutch Agrologistics is a set of functions that ensure the right product is delivered at the right time and under the right conditions to the customer while minimizing costs.
Chair Saskia de Lang of the Philippine-Netherlands Business Council (PNBC) moderated the forum, with Aspire Asia CEO Matthys van der Lely sharing his expertise in food hub establishment in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
