President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. warmly welcomed the continued investment of global infrastructure firm I Squared Capital in the Philippines, underscoring the country’s growing reputation as a competitive and reliable investment destination.
In a message delivered by Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go during the groundbreaking of the expanded Royale Cold Storage (RCS) facility in Plaridel, Bulacan, the President emphasized that modern cold storage systems play a vital role in ensuring food security and sustainability.
“I believe this initiative is an important step in our fight against hunger and wastage,” Marcos said. “When we reduce post-harvest losses, more food becomes available for consumption.”
The President added that improved storage facilities help stabilize food prices and enhance the productivity of farmers and fisherfolk. He also revealed that the government plans to establish a nationwide cold storage platform to modernize logistics systems and secure food supply across the country.
The expansion project in Bulacan adds a 1.5-hectare facility beside the existing five-hectare RCS complex, boosting cold chain capacity and ensuring the safe preservation of meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables for distribution throughout Luzon.
Marcos highlighted Bulacan’s crucial role as a regional food supplier, noting that the project will generate jobs and economic opportunities for local communities.
“That is why we are building stronger systems here that protect what our farmers and fisherfolk work hard to produce for the rest of the country,” he said. “When there is a steady supply, prices become more stable. When farmers are assured of cold storage and competitive prices, they become more productive. It benefits everyone.”
The RCS facility will offer refrigerated warehousing, storage, and blast freezing services for the food industry, catering to major provinces such as Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Pangasinan.
The Bulacan event was followed by a courtesy call by I Squared Capital Founder and Chairman Dr. Sadek Wahba at Malacañang, where he and the President discussed the company’s ongoing and future investments in the Philippines.
“With more than $1 billion already invested across energy, transport, logistics, and digital infrastructure, I Squared Capital is now advancing toward its $2-billion investment commitment to support the Marcos administration’s infrastructure and growth agenda,” the Palace reported.
Marcos said the company’s continued investment reflects the success of his administration’s economic reforms and pro-investment initiatives.
“This partnership is a testament to the strong confidence in the Philippines as a premier hub for infrastructure, growth, and innovation,” he said.
Malacañang described the meeting as a “vote of confidence” from one of the country’s largest foreign investors.
Headquartered in Florida, I Squared Capital manages over $50 billion in assets across 90 companies in 70 countries worldwide. Its sustained investments align with recent economic reforms, including the CREATE More Act, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, and amendments to the Renewable Energy Act, all aimed at fostering a liberalized and investor-friendly business environment.
“We are very confident this will make a big difference,” Marcos said. “We have to bring healthcare, food security, and infrastructure down to the people — that is how we build a stronger, more resilient Philippines.”