DTI proposal on local sourcing hailed

A top official of a food distribution company hailed yesterday the proposal of the Department of Trade and Industry for major food chains to source their requirements from local producers.

Maritess Concepcion, president of CSP International, said that the initiative of Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas II was timely considering the slowdown in the economy. However, she also urged local producers to improve their operations in terms of product quality and pricing to compete effectively with foreign suppliers.

Concepcion has just been elected president of the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) whose members supply most of the requirements of the food service sector and processing companies. Also elected officers for 2002 were Jess Cham of Mayon Consolidated, VP-director; Kli Laygo of Bestmatch Enterprises, director-treasurer, David Kawpeng of Edan Corp., director-secretary; Benjie Caballero of CTC, Vicky Choi of PTC and Doris Pradas of Virgo, directors.

According to Concepcion, most food chains already source their major requirements locally, such as vegetables, beverages and bakery products, but they also import part of their meat and poultry needs because domestic supply is either inadequate or irregular.

She said that members of MITA are aware that their major role in the economy is to ensure that they are able to fill in shortages in production and supply promptly.

In the end, consumers stand to benefit in terms of consistent product quality and stable prices under such a set-up, Concepcion added.