During her visit to the remote island province of Batanes, DTI Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco called for the establishment of a cold chain facility to ensure a stable supply and more affordable prices of basic goods. She noted Batanes’ frequent typhoon disruptions and difficult access—mostly reliant on limited cargo vessel trips and weather-dependent flights—as major challenges to supply stability. A cold chain system, she emphasized, would optimize inventory, assist local farmers and fishers, and strengthen supply chain financing for small distributors and retailers in the region.