Cold chain sector to increase capacity

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s cold chain industry is aiming to increase its capacity to address the demand for the storage of COVID vaccines as well as the existing need of the food sector, the Board of Investments (BOI) said yesterday.

The cold chain industry expects to play a critical role in the storage and distribution of COVID vaccines that will be imported by the government to fight the virus, apart from catering to the needs of the food sector.

The cold chain industry is targeting a 10 to 15 percent increase per year in its capacity to serve the growing demand from both the food and non-food sectors as provided under the roadmap crafted by consultants Rolando Dy and Florencia Sevilla, both of the University of Asia and the Pacific.

As part of the roadmap, a national cold chain committee will be set up to implement and monitor programs in five focus industries such as meat or processed meat, fisheries and aquaculture, dairy, fruits and vegetables, pharmaceuticals and electronics as well as promote investments in key geographic areas.

Given the new demand for storage of COVID vaccines, the BOI said revenues of the cold chain industry, expected to reach P20 billion by 2023, could go even higher.

As several vaccines have been given emergency approvals around the world, BOI managing head and trade undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the government is expecting such to be made available in the country at the soonest possible time, making it necessary for the cold chain industry to prepare for the nationwide distribution.