In an effort to minimize post-harvest losses and dumping of tomatoes caused by oversupply, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 turned over a sexy technology known as Zero Energy Cooling Chamber (ZECC) to Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya on March 20, 2025.

Said turn-over was witnessed by no less than Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Caballero together with Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino of DA Regional Field Office No. 02.

The facility, a product of research conducted by DA Cagayan Valley Research Center, is a double screen structure with charcoal cavity material (low-cost storage) and no energy required.

It has the capacity to prolong shelf-life and maintain the quality of tomato and eggplant up to 31 days and 8 days of storage. Also, it lowers outside temperature of 5-10% and maintain 90-96 relative humidity through evaporative cooling principle.

The allotted ZECC, the first and initial to be turned over, has a capacity of one (1) ton of mature tomatoes.

According to RED Aquino, the agency is contemplating to mass produce ZECC units for scale up and distribution to vegetable growers, local government units and even markets and trading centers.

She said that the office shall deliver additional units next week to NVAT as part of the allocation.

NVAT headed by newly installed Manager Kurt Alfaro together with former Manager Gilbert Cumila happily received the chamber.

Alfaro said that the facility will minimize spoilage since they can already store tomatoes in longer days.

As per the terminal’s data on inflow, tomato is the top commodity being traded daily as to volume.

Others who witnessed the turn-over were Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Kay S. Olivas, Mr. Hector U. Tabbun, Chief, Research Division, Ms. Carol P. Albay, HVCDP and NUPAP Focal Person, Engr. Rolando D. Pedro, Chief, DA CVRC, and technical staff, Mr. Arsenio Apostol Jr., Chief, DA Nueva Vizcaya Experiment Station, Mr. Jonathan Argonia, APCO Nueva Vizcaya and other regional and NVAT officials.