The Department of Agriculture (DA) revealed its plan to establish border control facilities for imported animal and plant products by early 2025 to prevent the entry of diseases such as Q fever into the country.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that the Cold Examination Facility for Agriculture (CEFA) would not only prevent food contamination outbreaks but also curb smuggling activities that could negatively impact local farmers.
The P1.2 billion CEFA project, done in collaboration with International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), will oversee the management of cold storage facilities. The first five CEFA are set to commence sanitary and phytosanitary inspection of animal, fish, plant, and other agricultural outputs by early next year.
Private contractors are currently constructing a CEFA in Angat, Bulacan, with equipment procurement underway to meet the operational timeline. Plans are also in place for the construction of four additional facilities in Manila, Subic, Davao, and General Santos City by September 2025.
The comprehensive facilities are planned for major ports and fish ports across the country, including Manila International Container Terminal, Subic Bay International Corp., Davao International Container Terminal, Manila South Harbor, and others. CEFA in Angat and General Santos City will feature DA-funded laboratories.
Additionally, the department will implement pre-shipment inspections in ports of origin to ensure strict border control on agricultural imports. Tiu Laurel stated that an administrative order on pre-shipment inspection will be issued before the facilities become operational, pending approval from the Department of Finance. These inspections are expected to be enforced within the next three months.
