Plaridel: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed the groundbreaking of the expansion site of the Royale Cold Storage (RCS) facility in Plaridel, Bulacan, stating that the project would significantly enhance national cold-chain capacity while supporting the long-term goals of food security and sustainability.
According to Philippines News Agency, the expansion project is spearheaded by global infrastructure investor I Squared Capital and will introduce a new 1.5-hectare cold storage facility alongside the existing 5-hectare site. President Marcos emphasized that under its new ownership, RCS aims to build a nationwide cold storage platform to secure the food supply and modernize the logistics chain within the country.
President Marcos underscored the importance of modern cold storage facilities in minimizing post-harvest losses and ensuring food accessibility across the Philippines. The expansion is expected to improve the preservation and storage of perishable goods such as meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, ensuring that fresh and affordable produce reaches consumers nationwide.
Highlighting the broader impacts, Marcos stated that this initiative is a crucial step in combating hunger and food wastage. By modernizing the storage facilities, more food will be available for consumption, which is expected to stabilize prices. This stability, in turn, will encourage farmers with assured cold storage and competitive prices, ultimately boosting productivity.
RCS stands as the largest cold storage facility in Luzon, providing vital refrigerated and cold chain logistics services, including warehousing, storage, and blast freezing for food-related industries across key areas in the region, such as Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Pangasinan.
The President also recognized Bulacan’s critical role as a food supplier in the region and expressed confidence that the expansion project would generate job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the province. He emphasized the importance of building robust systems to protect the produce of local farmers and fisherfolk.
Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, Frederick Go, remarked on I Squared’s investments, noting the strong confidence foreign investors have in the Philippines as a premier hub for infrastructure, growth, and innovation. He further added that I Squared’s ongoing investments signify the success of the administration’s efforts to create a more competitive and investor-friendly economy.
