May 2, 2007

 

Philippines' Matutum Meat Packing Corp readies plant for its first pork exports

 

 

Matutum Meat Packing Corporation, one of the two meat- processing plants in Mindanao tapped by the Philippine Department of Agriculture to ship the country's first foreign pork exports is now on the run, a company official said yesterday.

Stephen Castillo, Matutum Meat general manager, said its facilities, worth at least P200 million in nearby Polomolok town, South Cotabato, began its operations about two weeks ago for its first shipment to Singapore by June or July this year.

 

The plant's current domestic markets are areas within the Mindanao region and in Visayas, through the Koronadal Commercial Centre and its sister company, Cebu-based Sunpride Foods, Inc, he added.

 

Castillo said there are recent negotiations are going for some meat bigwigs which will source its meat from Matutum which he declined to name for now.

 

He is upbeat on its pork exports to Singapore, stating it is confident that the company complied with the strict standards set by Singaporean officials. Last year, Singaporean pork buyers visited South Cotabato to inspect piggeries and scout for prospective suppliers.

 

Castillo said their processing plant is essentially 98 percent complete and is expected to go full blast in next several weeks. Its modern slaughterhouse has a full processing capacity of 240 hogs per hour.

 

Asked if live hogs supply in the area is sufficient to meet Matutum Meat's future demand, Mr. Castillo believed "it will not be a problem" as he urged farmers to also raise pigs.

 

Official local government data showed that hogs abound in the area but have been traded to other areas of the country in the previous years. Castillo said this scenario is likely to change with the presence of Matutum Meat's plant.

 

Domestically, Matutum Meat is expected to strengthen its presence through its sister company, Sunpride. Sunpride is the maker of the Holiday brand of corned beef and also a manufacturer of food mixes and processed meats. Sunpride also distributes fresh pork and beef to Cebu-based hotels, food chains and restaurants.

 

Aside from Matutum Meat, Davao City-based Nenita Quality Foods Corp has also been tapped by the Agriculture department to make the country's first pork exports to Singapore.

 

Government's focus on strengthening Mindanao's hog industry as the country's front door in penetrating the foreign pork market is based on the fact that the island has been recognized by the global Office International des Epizooties - or World Organization for Animal Health as free from the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease.