During his visit to Bukidnon, the Secretary said he has not allowed the use of these facilities due to design flaws, even though they were completed several years ago.

He said these facilities were built under the previous DA administration.

The Secretary added that the facilities cannot adequately cool vegetables and fruits.

“I did not allow them to operate because the construction was very flawed. For me, it is a project of the old DA administration that was very flawed,” the Secretary said.

One of these unused facilities is located inside the compound of the Cagayan de Oro City Engineering Office in Barangay Kauswagan, which was completed in March 2022.

DA said each monolithic dome cold storage facility is estimated to have cost around ₱20 million.

The facilities were designed to help farmers extend the shelf life of their produce and sell at reasonable prices.

The Secretary said that DA is still looking into possible solutions to make the facilities functional. However, he said repairs could cost even more.

“The operator would only lose money. So, I did not make the contractor pay for it,” the Secretary said.

Bukidnon

Bukidnon is a landlocked province in the Northern Mindanao region of the Philippines, known as the “Highland Paradise” for its cool climate and vast agricultural plains. Historically, it is the ancestral domain of several indigenous groups, including the Bukidnon, Higaonon, and Talaandig peoples. Today, it is a major producer of pineapples and other crops, and it is home to natural attractions like Mount Kitanglad, a protected national park and ASEAN Heritage Park.

Cagayan de Oro City Engineering Office

The Cagayan de Oro City Engineering Office is a local government unit responsible for the planning, design, and construction of public infrastructure within the city. Historically, its functions have been essential to the city’s development, managing projects related to roads, bridges, and public buildings to support the growing urban population. Its work has been particularly crucial in the wake of natural disasters, such as Typhoon Sendong in 2011, leading to significant infrastructure rehabilitation and flood mitigation efforts.

Barangay Kauswagan

Barangay Kauswagan is a barangay (the smallest administrative division) in the Philippines, with its name translating to “progress” or “development” in English. Historically, many places with this name were established or renamed to symbolize a new beginning and a hopeful future, often after periods of conflict or to mark a community’s growth. Today, it functions as a local residential and administrative unit, contributing to the social and economic fabric of its city or municipality.