A PHP101 million cold storage facility set for construction in Ilocos Norte this year aims to reduce post-harvest losses and boost the income of local onion farmers, officials said Tuesday.

Acting Provincial Agriculturist Teresa Bacnat said the World Bank-funded project under the Department of Agriculture’s rural development program will be built in Barangay Buyon, Bacarra town.

The provincial government is finalizing a lease and co-management agreement with the Bacarra Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The facility, with a PHP20 million provincial counterpart, will have a capacity of 198,000 kg. It is designed to mitigate onion rot, which can claim up to 40 percent of harvests, and stabilize farmgate prices during peak season.

Onion is the Ilocos region’s leading high-value crop, with government data showing 52,839 metric tons produced in 2025.

The facility is expected to benefit thousands of farmers engaged in clustered production. (PNA)