THE Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) has appealed to the public to stop panic buying and hoarding processed meat products as a surge in demand could deplete the industry’s production supply faster — to 15 days from the normal 30-day capacity.
Pampi also urged the national government to immediately resolve logistical concerns on the ground as some shuttles carrying workers and trucks transporting their products were not allowed to pass through certain check points despite showing necessary documents and identification.
Nonetheless, Pampi assured the public that it is doing its best to ensure that the country would have a sufficient supply of processed meat products.
“There is no reason to panic as far as our supply is concerned. We have sufficient supply, especially of canned goods, which is about 30 days’ inventory,” Pampi Vice President Jerome D. Ong told the BusinessMirror.
“But it is based on normal purchase patterns prior to all this panic. The panic buying results in double than usuual volume and that 30-day supply becomes 15 days,” Ong added.
Ong said demand from retailers, distributors, supermarkets for certain processed meat products such as hot dogs, corned beef, longganisa and tocino has tripled or even quintupled after President Duterte declared a community quarantine in Metro Manila few days ago.
The situation worsened after he declared an “enhanced” or stricted quarantine, on a wider area, Luzon-wide.
However, Ong said the industry has decided to limit the volume of supplies they give per retailer, supermarket and distributor to ensure the equal distribution of supplies in Metro Manila.
“We’re controlling [the supply we’re providing them]. This is to equally distribute the supply within Metro Manila. We want to serve as many consumers as possible so we manage excessive orders,” he said.
Nonetheless, Ong disclosed that supermarkets, groceries and retailers still have stocks equivalent to 15 to 30 days, bringing the standing inventory of procesed meat products in Metro Manila to at least 45 days to a maximum of 60 days.
Ong noted that the total processed meat inventory held by processors and retailers and supermarkets would be sufficient for the consumers’ demand if there would be “less panic and plants are able to accept unhampered delivery of raw materials and delivery of goods to stores.”
Checkpoints and logistics
Ong urged the government to quickly resolve problems surrounding transportation of their workers and the deliveries of their raw materials and finished products which are being delayed due to inconsistent policies in checkpoints.