FOOD security advocacy group Tugon Kabayan urged the government on Tuesday to ensure the smooth transportation of perishable food products within Metro Manila and nearby provinces as authorities implement an NCR+ bubble over the next two weeks.
The group made this call following the approval of IATF Resolution No 104, which imposed travel restrictions, allowing only essential travel into and out of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and NCR from March 22 to April 4.
The group reminded the government that authorities on the ground should ensure that movement of goods and cargo remain unhampered amid the latest measure of the government to curb the spike of Covid-19 cases in the country.
The group recalled that during the early implementation of quarantine rules last year, some food-producing provinces experienced an oversupply of vegetables leading to income loss and food wastage.
“Let’s learn from the past and it seems we have really learned from last year. But we just want to remind everybody that it is important to ensure smooth flow of perishable goods, considering that the areas under [the NCR+] consist already of 30 million Filipinos,” it said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
The group noted reports in the past year that transport of farm produce was hampered due to varying quarantine rules in every locality. Nonetheless, the group said they have not received these types of reports anymore from food producers.
The group also proposed that the local government units (LGUs), especially those that implement various forms of lockdowns such as Manila and Pasig City, distribute fresh produce instead of canned goods to create a win-win situation for both consumers and producers.
The group said the issuance of food passes, such as what the government did in March 2020 to ensure unhampered flow of domestic trade, may not be required this time if authorities on the ground are well-briefed that movement of food products is allowed.
“They may understand that the only ones allowed are cargo trucks, and by cargo trucks are really trucks. They should understand that fresh produce are delivered or transported not only through trucks but also via jeepneys, pick-ups and other forms of vehicles, especially for small producers,” it said.
Barring logistical delays, the group said enough fish is available in the coming Holy Week and months especially since the three-month closed fishing seasons in the country’s major fishing grounds has been lifted.
“We have enough fish. Producers simply need to ensure that commodities from farms will reach consumers. We can ensure that produce will reach consumers especially those under stricter quarantine rules if the food pass system from last year will be implemented more efficiently and effectively,” it added.
The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) continued to record an increasing volume of fish unloading this month and may even surpass the previous month’s volume due to increased supply following the lifting of the closed fishing season. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/19/fish-unloading-at-navotas-port-to-rise-further-in-march-with-lifting-of-closed-fishing-season/)
Meat supply
In an interview with the BusinessMirror on Tuesday, Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) Vice President Jerome D. Ong said there is enough supply of processed meat products, especially for areas under the NCR+ bubble.
Ong explained the industry has adjusted to the new normal and improved production capacities following a surge in demand for their products with the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) last year.
“We are much better prepared now than a year ago. A year ago no one saw this pandemic coming as most companies were rebuilding their inventory levels coming from a closing of 2019 then the pandemic struck,” Ong said.
“This time, companies and manufacturers have increased their production capacity by 30 to 50 percent in anticipation of granular lockdowns being implemented by local government units. We are prepared and even our suppliers in the supply chain side are better prepared now as [this bubble is being implemented],” Ong added.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes