UIPC urges Philippine food sector to invest in solar-powered storage amid El Niño risks

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Solar storage for food sector

Highlights

El Niño has caused P6.539 billion in agriculture losses since June and damaged 241,664.95 hectares of crop area, heightening food security risks.
Union Insulated Panel Corp. claims their insulated and solar-powered cold storage solutions conserve up to 30% energy and halve construction times for food sector clients.
UIPC inaugurated a 2.6-hectare Pampanga plant with one million square meters annual insulated panel capacity to target Luzon Economic Corridor industrial demand.

Storage and energy measures promoted for food supply resilience

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, Union Insulated Panel Corp. on Tuesday called on food industry players to invest in insulated and solar-powered facilities to reduce losses and protect food supplies as El Niño continues to affect agricultural output.

UIPC President and Chief Executive Officer Danielle del Rosario said the weather pattern is set to affect food preparation and storage, warning that produce without safe storage can go to waste or dry up. She said businesses still have time to prepare and that combining insulated panels, roofing and energy-efficient systems can help soften the effects of a super El Niño.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has confirmed that El Niño has been active in the Tropical Pacific since June and may develop into a very strong event that could last until 2027. Extreme heat has caused P6.539 billion in agricultural damage after dry spells in different regions, with total damaged crop area estimated at 241,664.95 hectares, including 51,594.93 hectares classified as totally damaged and 188,507.02 hectares as partially damaged.

Del Rosario said insulated panels can be used for roofing, walling and other temperature-controlled applications such as cold storage, blast freezers and warehouses serving the food, agricultural and industrial sectors. She said the systems can conserve as much as 30% more energy and reduce construction time by as much as 50%, partly by easing the workload on air conditioners, chillers and refrigeration systems.

Pampanga plant targets Luzon industrial demand

UIPC also inaugurates its 2.6-hectare plant in Porac, Pampanga, with annual production capacity of one million square meters of insulated panels. The company says the facility is positioned to support investment opportunities tied to the Luzon Economic Corridor.

Del Rosario said the site is only a few kilometers from Clark, Tarlac, Pangasinan and other parts of Pampanga, giving the company a logistical advantage as regional development accelerates. She added that shorter delivery distances are important for roofing products and that the plant can serve the broader Luzon economic cluster more efficiently.

The Luzon Economic Corridor accounts for about 50% of Philippine gross domestic product and is intended to attract more investment and jobs through infrastructure development and expanded manufacturing activity. That positions UIPC's new facility within a wider push to reinforce industrial capacity and supply chain support in one of the country's main growth areas.

In our earlier article on the UN-backed Strait of Hormuz fertilizer transit plan, we explained that the mechanism remains stalled because it still requires a U.S.-Iran agreement, risking missed planting windows in import-dependent regions. We noted that extended disruption to fertilizer shipments could tighten agricultural supplies and push food and commodity prices higher across parts of Asia and Africa.

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