October 29, 2007

 

Philippines delays meat exports to Singapore anew

 

 

The Philippines has again deferred its initial pork exports to Singapore as the government is still putting in place the necessary infrastructure and system, an official said.

 

Early this year, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap announced that the country will ship cut pork meat to Singapore by July. However, it was delayed due to the country's failure to meet food and sanitary requirements set by Singapore. Food experts were expected to re-inspect the Philippine facilities in September to reset target shipments this October.

 

Jose Ariel Billones, regional director for Central Mindanao of the National Meat Inspection Service, said the government is still completing a P20-million (US$454,338) meat laboratory facility in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

 

Billones said he is looking forward for Singaporean experts to inspect the facilities by February as the meat laboratory is now about 47 percent complete.

 

Billones said the initial shipment of cut pork meat also did not push through as some farms still had swine with antibiotic residues which came from either the drugs or feeds used.

 

A record system will also be put up to trace owners of pigs should there be questions on the quality of their produce, he said. Efforts to gather swine producers will also be pursued to strengthen their ranks, Billones added.

 

The Agriculture department early this year tapped two Mindanao firms to pilot the country's foray into the pork meat export market. These are the Matutum Meat Packing Corp. based in Polomolok town and the Davao City- based Nenita Quality Foods Corp.

 

Billones said Matutum Meat is in the process of compliance for its Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point and Good Manufacturing Practices certifications.

 

Abusama Alid, the department's Central Mindanao director, said the agency expects the region's entry into the pork meat export to enhance the growth of the swine industry in the area.

 

Last year, Singaporean pork buyers visited South Cotabato province to scout for suppliers.

 

Stephen Castillo, Matutum Meat manager, earlier said penetrating the Singaporean market will boost the swine industry since Singapore's standards serve as a barometer for neighbouring countries.

 

Matutum Meat, sister company of Cebu's Sunpride Foods, Inc. which produces Holiday corned beef and Sunpride canned goods, has invested around P200 million for its state-of-the-art processing plant in Polomolok town.

 

Mindanao has been chosen by the government to initiate the country's pork exports since the island has been certified as free from the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease, the recognition coming from the Office International des Epizooties, or World Organization for Animal Health.