Western Visayas is part of the national cold chain established by the Department of Agriculture to maintain freshness and extend the shelf life of perishable products being transported from production areas to key cities and tourist spots in the country.

DA OIC-regional director Larry Nacionales said in a press release that the region has four inter-island connection projects - the Panay Cold Chain, Negros Cold Chain, Iloilo Cold Storage and Meat Cold Storage and Handling for Iloilo.

Region 6 produces yearly 2,640 tons of vegetables, including those from two Iloilo towns, and 218,800 tons of meat products. The DA 6 will also set up a cold chain Bagsakan Center in Alimodian, Iloilo, particularly in barangays under the umbrella of "Seven Cities" and fishery cold Chain project in Capiz and northern Iloilo.

The national cold chain uses the cool store technology preservation method where temperature of food products is kept at low levels, which are just above freezing points, to reduce the rate of deterioration and growth of undesirable microorganisms.

Cold store facilities being utilized for vegetables, livestock and poultry products are modular rooms and refrigerated vans with a load capacity of up to five tons.

Maria Teresa Solis, chief of Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division 6, said the use of cold chain facilities may reduce post-harvest losses from 30 percent to 25 percent in fruits and 15 percent to 10 percent in vegetables and increase recovery from 40 percent to 60 percent on processing.

The DA said the establishment of national cold chain also seeks to reduce layers of middlemen who contribute to increase in prices, improve product movement, ensure efficient handling and transport system and fix unstable price fluctuations.*

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