BALANGA CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) turned over the country’s first solar and wind-powered modular cold storage facility to the municipal government of Dinalupihan, Bataan on April 23, supporting national efforts to improve postharvest systems.
Implemented under the Fiscal Year 2025 Locally Funded Projects – Cold Storage Expansion Program of the Agricultural and Fisheries Logistics Office, the facility was constructed with a total project cost of ₱14,625,000.
Construction started on November 23, 2025 and was completed on April 8, 2026.
Designed as a containerized modular cold storage system, the unit has a capacity of 9 to 10 metric tons and a storage volume of 67 to 76 cubic meters, covering a total floor area of 214.78 square meters.
Equipped with a hybrid renewable energy system integrating solar and wind power, the cold storage ensures continuous and efficient refrigeration.
According to the DA, the facility is designed for multi-commodity use, with temperature-controlled chambers suitable for vegetables, fruits, and other high-value crops.
It maintains optimal storage conditions while reducing respiration rate and delaying senescence, helping preserve product quality.
Beyond storage efficiency, the agency underscored that the facility minimizes postharvest losses due to microbial spoilage, moisture loss, and physiological deterioration.
It enables farmers to implement proper postharvest handling practices, maintain product quality, and extend the shelf life of their produce.
The availability of cold storage also allows farmers to regulate the timing of market release, avoid distress selling, and take advantage of more favorable market prices.
This contributes to improved income, enhanced price stability, and strengthened participation of multi-commodity farmers in the local agricultural value chain.
The initiative forms part of the DA’s continuing push to modernize agricultural logistics systems while advancing sustainable and climate-resilient technologies in farming communities nationwide.
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