The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) re-composition of a price and volume watch committee and advisory groups for livestock and poultry is a good start to prevent the unimpeded importation of meat products to the detriment of local producers, according to a local group.
Jose Elias Inciong, United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) president, said the move is a welcome development but added this must also be joined by other key government agencies involved in the import value chain.
In a briefing hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., Inciong said among the other agencies that must also be part of the committee include the National Economic Development Authority, the Department of Finance, the Department of Budget and Management, the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Science and Technology.
Inciong said the current committee and advisory group already include representatives from importers that allow all sectors of the value chain to present data helping the government make “informed decisions” and not just base them on doctrines.
Under DA Special Order No. 19 Series of 2023 dated January 4, 2023, the technical committee will serve as technical advisory body of the DA Secretary in terms of supply and demand situation of livestock commodities, meat and meat products prices for both local and international as well as for volume gaps.
The body is also mandated to arrange regular and emergency meetings to discuss issues and concerns affecting the livestock and poultry industry, prices, importation, animal disease situations, minimum access volume, cold storage inventories and outlooks, among others.
It is also expected to integrate and analyze relevant information gathered during meetings; formulate situational analysis and adoption of measures that will address any volume gaps and sudden price surges; evaluate policy options to address pressing issues on supply, importation, prices and inventories; and transmit policy recommendations.
Meanwhile, advisory groups are tasked to assist in the close monitoring of livestock, poultry, eggs, meat, and meat product prices and such other allied industries as feeds and demand and supply trends.
It will also provide reliable industry information on the price of livestock, poultry, eggs, meat and meat products, and allied industries such as feeds, demand and supply trends and help disseminate information to the private sector and industry associations.
The advisory wing will also assist in the development and implementation of programs that enhance the predictability of production and consumption, supply and demand of livestock, poultry, meat, and meat products and allied commodities; and provide inputs to the technical committee for the integration of policy issues and recommendations for submission to the Secretary of DA.
Inciong said there used to be a similar price and volume watch committee and advisory groups for livestock and poultry in the past but was discontinued by the previous administration under former DA Secretary William Dar.
At present, the technical committee is composed of representatives from the DA’s assistant secretary for consumer affairs, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), National Livestock Program, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, National Meat Inspection Service, Philippine Carabao Center, National Dairy Authority, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, DA-Minimum Access Volume, National Corn Program, Philippine Coconut Authority and BAI’s Livestock Research and Development division.
Meanwhile, the swine advisory group will be filled by representatives from the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., Pilmico Foods Corp., Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, Swine Industry Federation, Foremost Farms and the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners.
For the broiler and layer advisory group, members will be from UBRA, Pilmico, Philippine Association of Broiler Integrators, San Miguel Foods Inc., Philmalay Poultry Breeders Inc., Philippine Egg Board, Vitarich Corp., Philippine Association of Breeder Layers Inc. and the Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative.
For the meat importers and processors advisory group, members are from the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc., Meat Importers and Traders Association and Jollibee Foods Corp.
The ruminant advisory group is represented by the Federation of Cattle Raisers Associations of the Philippines, the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers and Associations of the Philippines Inc. and Eduardo Lecciones from a group identified only as SRRA while the vendors advisory group will be represented by Manny Pareja of a group only tagged as UVA.
In a separate statement, DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the group extends to stakeholders an effective guide on the supply movement of poultry and livestock in the country.
“It would be helpful to see all sides, different perspectives to come up with a solution sometimes, every now and then, we are also part of the group that has to find ways to correct inflation. Having other agencies involved will probably be beneficial also,” Evangelista said.
