04 February 2021 – The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the largest
business organization in the country, expressed its support to the move by the government
to ensure the stable supply of meat and meat products in the market amidst shortage in the
country’s local production.
In a statement, the PCCI said it is confident in the leadership of Secretary William Dar as the
Department of Agriculture (DA) puts up safeguards against those who manipulate the supply
and price of agricultural products and assured to increase the transport of pork, chicken, and
vegetables from the Visayas and Mindanao to Metro Manila and to Kadiwa outlets and, the
provision of subsidy for the logistical cost of supplying pork and chicken in Metro Manila.
“The DA is doing its level best to address the situation. The allocation of funds should be able
to help indemnify hog farmers and to help them as they cope with the shortage brought about
by the African Swine Flu (ASF),” Roberto Amores, PCCI’s Director for Agriculture said.
Meanwhile, PCCI President, Amb. Benedicto V. Yujuico said immediate and doable
interventions have to be made to address the supply of pork and to stabilize prices across the
food value chain.
PCCI proposed the calibrated importation of pork as an immediate remedy “until such time
that the spread of the ASF is curbed and local hog raisers can safely return to their industry.”
“The risk of contamination and spread of the virus is really high because there is no available
vaccine yet for ASF. A calibrated importation program is an option government can consider
to secure supply and bring down the price of pork,” Yujuico said.
Yujuico said that the move to import pork is attuned to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA)
food security program especially at this time when supply is short and prices are soaring.
PCCI emphasized that the DA and the government’s economic team should continue to
strengthen local production through more accessible financing and technology and
infrastructure support, including additional cold storage facilities for the agriculture sector.
