April 3, 2008

Philippine meat processors vow price control on meat products

Meat processors in the Philippines have promised to coordinate with the government in keeping rein of prices for meat products.

During the 19th anniversary of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc or PAMPI, Philippine vice president Noli de Castro underlined the significant role of the meat processing industry in ensuring food security and keeping the prices of commodities within the reach of the mass market.

For its part, PAMPI explained that the government should also do its part in addressing the threats and challenges faced by the group so that it can respond positively to the call of government to keep meat prices affordable.

According to PAMPI executive director Francisco J. Buencamino, among these challenges are the strong peso which is limiting the capacity of food exporters, the rising cost of tin plates, the growing threat of China as a meat producer competing with local products, and the onslaught of globalization that has taken its toll on smaller plants.

PAMPI is composed of 31 member-companies with annual production of about 600 million kilos of meat products worth over P80 billion. The group includes the largest meat processors in the country, directly employing 35,000 Filipinos and providing indirect employment to 50,000 others.