BACOLOR, Pampanga — In a major boost to local agriculture, the town of Bacolor officially opened its first-ever onion cold storage facility on 4 June at Barangay Cabalantian.

The project, a significant step toward improving post-harvest handling and storage in the region, was turned over to the Bacolor Onion Farmers Association (BOFA), a group of 24 active members cultivating onions and other high-value crops across 60.74 hectares of farmland.

The state-of-the-art facility is designed to hold up to 20,000 bags of onions, providing a much-needed solution to one of the persistent challenges faced by onion growers in the province: Spoilage due to inadequate storage.

With this cold storage, farmers can now preserve the quality and freshness of their onions for extended periods, helping reduce losses during the peak harvest season and giving them the flexibility to sell their produce when market prices are more favorable.

This is expected to significantly boost the income of local farmers and strengthen the supply chain for one of the region’s staple crops.

The turnover and inauguration ceremony began with a ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of a commemorative marker, signaling the formal opening of the facility.

The event was attended by key officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government.

Among those present were DA Assistant Secretary for Logistics Daniel Alfonso Atayde, DA Regional Executive Director for Region III Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz, Jr., representatives from the High Value Crops Development Program, and municipal officials of Bacolor.

Assistant Secretary Atayde, in his message, underscored the importance of cold storage infrastructure in achieving the DA’s goal of increasing farmer profitability and reducing food wastage. He praised the local government and BOFA for their collaborative effort in realizing the project, which he said aligns with the department’s broader mission to modernize Philippine agriculture through innovation and support for grassroots initiatives.

This facility marks a milestone not just for Bacolor but for the province of Pampanga as a whole, serving as a model for future agricultural infrastructure projects that empower local farmers and promote sustainable farming practices.