Amid the continuing criticisms of the local poultry industry on the government’s decision not to control meat imports, the Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday said the low demand for poultry products is due to the enhanced community quarantine.
William Dar, DA Secretary, said the current situation is “only temporary.”
Dar also stressed that the agency is still working with the sector to further enhance its productivity and competitiveness.
He claims that the DA, through its concerned units and agencies including the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) are in constant talks with United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) even before the COVID-19 pandemic to help them resolve major issues and concerns.
“In fact, we mutually agreed to provide them financial assistance to help some of their members rise above the current crisis… In addition, the DA thru the NMIS will establish in 2021 more triple A slaugtherhouses, including a facility to produce mechanically-deboned meat (MDM) to reduce imports of said commodity,” Dar explained.
However, he remained firm on his stand that 70 percent or bulk of the country’s poultry imports comprise of MDM, offals and chicken skin are not produced in bulk and consolidated locally.
“We should also consider balancing the need of the meat processing sector that makes available more food products for Filipino consumers. Once again, we wish to reiterate that we did not ask UBRA nor the local poultry industry to limit their production,” the DA chief stated.
Meanwhile, BAI director Ronnie Domingo said that the plans to put up a cold inspection facility is still underway.
He expressed that the project has a budget of P521 million with a timeline that is now extended until June 2021 from the original plan of completing them within the year.
The official described that the facility will be a common place for inspection of imported agri products that can accommodate up to 12 reefer vans a day.
However, the project is still awaiting for a working agreement despite already having a committed budget, designs and negotiations.