PH’s 1st border inspection facility to open in Bulacan
THE country’s first border inspection facility will soon rise in Bulacan which will house the state-of-the-art testing laboratories for the examination of all imported animal, fish, plant and other agricultural commodities.
The project will be constructed following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Pacific Roadlink Logistics Inc. (PRLI).
The MOU signing was led by DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban, Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairperson Senator Cynthia A. Villar, House Committee on Agriculture Mark Enverga and PRLI President Edgar Dominic Milla.
The P2.3-billion Cold Examination Facility in Agriculture (CEFA), which will be built on PRLI’s property at General Alejo Santos Highway, Angat, Bulacan, aims to strengthen the country’s capability to conduct first border inspections and improve its examination of containerized agricultural commodities.
It also seeks to prevent the proliferation of agricultural smuggling.
“We must continuously assert our vigilance in protecting the industry from pests and diseases that pose serious threats to agricultural productivity in the country. This partnership is a testament to our commitment,” Panganiban said.
Panganiban disclosed that the department allotted the said amount in its 2023 budget for the construction of the facility, which would include hubs in Cebu and Davao.
Under the MOU, the PRLI allows the government to use for a maximum of 25 years, its 10-hectare land for the CEFA, which will include a laboratory, incinerator, container yard, and truck parking, among others.
The DA’s Food Safety and Regulatory Agencies (FSRA): Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) will operate the facility.
Meanwhile, BAI and CEFA Project Director Paul Limson said the construction is expected to be finished within 6 to 8 months.
The facility will initially function as a 24-hour Off-Dock Custom Facility to handle agricultural imports from the country’s two main ports: Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port.
