Ilocos norte: A PHP101 million cold storage facility set for construction in Ilocos Norte this year aims to reduce post-harvest losses and boost the income of local onion farmers, officials said Tuesday. Acting Provincial Agriculturist Teresa Bacnat announced that the facility will be built in Barangay Buyon, Bacarra town, funded by the World Bank under the Department of Agriculture's rural development program.
According to Philippines News Agency, the provincial government is finalizing a lease and co-management agreement with the Bacarra Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The project includes a PHP20 million provincial counterpart and is designed to accommodate 198,000 kg of onions. The facility aims to mitigate onion rot, which can claim up to 40 percent of harvests, and stabilize farmgate prices during the peak season.
Onion is the leading high-value crop in the Ilocos region, with government data indicating a production of 52,839 metric tons in 2025. The new facility is expected to benefit thousands of farmers involved in clustered production, enhancing their ability to store and manage their crops effectively.
