Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has assured of adequate food supply during the enhanced community quarantine now being enforced in Luzon as a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Lopez made the assurance after the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) said that they anticipate a “severe shortage of goods by mid-April” because of restrictions at checkpoints.
“They are producing every day.”
“Shortage is not true. They are producing every day. All food companies are allowed to produce every day and cargoes [are] allowed to move unhampered,” the trade chief said.
The trade head added that glitches in implementation at checkpoints since the quarantine was imposed on March 17 has prompted the PAMPI to write his office.
“If you add up, it can be around one and a half- to two-month inventory.”
“The manufacturer has inventories in their warehouse, in their distributors, and in the supermarkets up to the sari-sari and convenience stores, which if you add up can be around one and a half- to two-month inventory,” he said.
San Miguel Corp. said its facilities can turn out 1.96 million kilograms of fresh meats, 524,000 kilograms of processed meats, and 2.11 million kilograms of flour and baked goods.
Canned goods producer Century Pacific Food Inc. also assured the DTI that they have enough raw materials and ingredients to continue its manufacturing operations.
DTI recently amended its previous memorandum circular to allow all types of cargoes to move within, to and from Luzon.
“No discretion in decision making at checkpoints that will result in different treatments. So, all cargoes are allowed,” Lopez said.