The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. on Wednesday assured the public of adequate supply of canned meat products as it advised consumers against panic buying and hoarding.
PAMPI vice president Jerome Ong said the canned meat manufacturers currently have an inventory level that is good for 60 days based on normal demand.
Their manufacturing plants, Ong said, have about 30 days inventory plus another 15 to 30 days inventory with the distributors and the retailers.
Ong, who is also the president of Foodsphere Inc., warned what will deplete stocks faster is the tendency of some people to hoard.
He lauded efforts of the national government to make sure that basic necessities, especially food, continue to be accessible to consumers.
He noted how the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture have been very supportive in addressing the needs of the people and listening to the problems of the food manufacturers, supply chain sector as well as the industry’s suppliers.
“We fully understand that checkpoints are strictly enforced to reduce people in the streets but workers in the manufacturing sector must be given exceptions, just like the heath workers in the front lines,” the PAMPI official said.
The group also asked the national government to immediately resolve logistical concerns on the ground as some shuttles carrying workers and trucks transporting their raw materials and products were not allowed to pass through certain checkpoints despite showing necessary documents and identification.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the country would have sufficient supply of processed meat products, especially during this very challenging time,” Ong said.