Meat processors ask government anew for ‘AAA’ abattoirs

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) has called the attention of the government to provide world-class slaughter houses around the country.

This, after the meat processors have felt the burden of importing meat products as the demand for processed food is rising, said PAMPI president Felix Tiukinhoy Jr.

What the industry is appealing is a ‘AAA’ slaughter house, those that can produce quality meat that meets international standard requirement.

If a private sector capitalist will be working with the government in building a huge and globally competitive abattoir, prices of canned goods and other processed food like bacon, hotdog, hams, and luncheon meat, among others.

At present though, the hog raising industry in the Philippines is yet to expand its reach in doing business, as middlemen are still getting a larger hunk of the money within the value chain.

If these hog raisers extend their livelihood by selling meat directly to the market through a clean ‘AAA’ slaughter facility, not only will they increase their profits, it will also help the processors source their meat requirements from the local market.

There are 36 processors who are active members of PAMPI. They are cornering 80 percent of the total domestic demand of processed meat. But these companies are importing their meat requirement from other countries.

Tiukinkoy, who is also the president of Virginia Foods Inc, (VFI), said that the government does not have to spend for this particular facility, instead it could be done through a private-public partnership. What is more important is providing the facility to strengthen the players' hold amid the tough regional competition in the ASEAN Integration.

“While we are investing to prepare for the integration, the government is not doing its share in improving our competitiveness," said PAMPI vice president Jerome O. Ong, who is also the president of CDO Foodsphere, Inc.

Because of the absence of  AAA abattoirs, meat processors have to import most of their meat requirements, and if this will not be addressed, there is a big possibility that the Philippines will lag behind and miss the opportunity of capturing the growing 600 million consumer-base in the ASEAN region, due to high cost of meat processing.

Aside from the huge potential of the ASEAN market for Philippine meat processing industry, Ong said other countries and continents like the Middle East are also considered as sure target-market for Philippine-made processed meat products. (FREEMAN)