Meat processors, hog raisers agree to lower food prices

The two largest groups of meat processors and hog raisers have joined forces to stabilize the supply and prices of livestock products in the country.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) and the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.(NFHFI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch collaborative eforts to "stabilize prices of food from livestock production through the promotion and enhancement of business cooperation between the two groups."

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap personally witnessed the signing of the agreement by PAMPI executive director Francisco J. Buencamino representing PAMPI president Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jr. and NFHFI chairman Gabriel H.Uy in Olongapo City last May 26.

Under the agreement, the two groups shall pursue collaboration through a broad range of strategies including a pork promotion campaign to increase Filipinos' per capita consumption of pork from 15 kilos to 18 kilos annually.

"By doing this, we would achieve more economical levels of prduction, processing, marketing and distribution in aid of the goal of the government to guarantee ‘food in every table,’ as its strategy in the battle against poverty, as well as ensuring food security of th country," Buencamino said.

Another strategy is to establish and strengthen industry cooperation through the adoption of joint approaches to recommendations on international and regional issues, creation of a feedback reporting system on pork supply and demand, and launching of research efforts and sharing of technical data to aid both private sector and government economic policy formulation.