The group–which calls itself RA 8435 Alliance – is composed of the United Swine Producers Association (USPA), National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI), Philippine Poultry and Livestock Cooperatives (PPLC), the Philippine Association of Feedmillers (PAFMI) and PAHRI.
RA 8435 is Republic Act 8435, otherwise known as the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).
RA 8435 Alliance spokesperson Soledad Agbayani who is also president of PAHRI said the group will continue supplying Metro Manila and nearby provinces with pork, chicken meat and eggs if the meat blockade takes place.
Earlier, the southern Luzon-based livestock group Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (ASAP) led by the Limcoma Multipurpose Cooperative based in Batangas, threatened to stage a food blockade to demonstrate their disgust over government’s failure to curb meat imports and smuggling which they blamed for dwindling domestic pork prices.
"While we recognize the objectives of ASAP to stop smuggling and uncontrolled importation of meat, we will not go to the extent of prejudicing the interest and welfare of the consuming public by stopping delivery of meat even for just three days," Agabayani said.
Agbayani said that while ASAP’s concerns also affect them, other alternatives could be explored to remedy the situation.
"Government must act immediately against smuggling because uncontrolled entry of these competing products will pose grave economic consequences and the entire livestock industry could close shop due to intolerable losses, making the country entirely dependent on meat importation," said Agbayani.
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture sought to appease the disenchanted livestock producers by encouraging industry leaders to form a Swine Board that will thresh out concerns of the industry.
But the proposal is not moving because a major player, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) composed of companies like Swift Foods Inc. and Purefoods-Hormel backed out.
PAMPI, along with the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) declined to join the board after learning it was being organized to mount an anti-meat import lobby.
"We cannot continue to be part of a group that intends to undermine the viability of our business," said PAMPI executive director Francisco Buencamino.
Buencamino said it became clear in initial meetings that there is a great divide between the producers and the meat importers/traders, and no real solution could be arrived at this point because of the conflicting interests.
"Meat processors and traders do not want to be compromised and be forced to support resolutions by the board which will be detrimental to the economics of our business," Buencamino explained.
PAMPI is at odds with Limcoma ASAP which accused meat processors and the DA of causing the continued decline of local pork prices.
Limcoma president Nicanor Briones said the DA is not only allowing the unrestrained entry of pork and other meat imports, it has also been "collaborating" with meat processors and importers by accrediting new suppliers from Brazil and Argentina. – Rocel Felix