The government and private sector recently inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to craft a cold chain integrated supply chain solution, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported on Thursday.
In a news statement, DTI said the Board of Investments (BOI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Insight Supply Chains Corp. are collaborating for the “Development of a Cold Chain Integrated Supply Chain Solution for Evidence-based Policy Making and Investment Programming” project.
The project seeks to establish a database that will identify existing cold chain service providers and project supply and demand for such services.
In addition, it will also generate data on present and future cold chain service gaps in various sectors as basis for policy formulation and investment promotion. These sectors include agriculture, fishery, retail and logistics and delivery.
The trade department said the project is in partnership with the National Cold Chain Committee (NC3), which is led by the BOI, Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines Inc. (CCAP).
BOI Governor Marjorie Ramos-Samaniego said the project is a “crucial first step” in boosting investments for the cold chain industry. She said this “can make the Philippines achieve food security and resiliency toward new normal.”
Earlier, CCAP President Anthony Dizon said it is a must to identify the locations needing cold chain facilities to attract investments. By doing so, he said that products will be distributed in such areas, encouraging backward integration of production by companies.
He said the investment climate should be conducive for foreign investments to allow further technology transfer and market access, stressing the need to promote ease of doing business further.
As such, Dizon said, the government should address any deterrent for foreign investments. He proposed to relax the rules on land use and to ensure secure power supply.
The DTI said that the parties agreed to launch the pilot project in Luzon, including Benguet, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Quezon, and Camarines Sur.
It will focus on priority commodities such as meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy and fisheries that are either fresh or processed.
In addition, the MOU highlights the goals and objectives of the Cold Chain Industry Roadmap as well as the national development programs in food security and integration of producers, manufacturers, traders and retailers.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization Country Representative Teddy Monroy said that the project also supports green industrial community initiatives, which can help in adjusting to the new normal.
“This collaboration builds synergy and promotes joint efforts through efficient data management in the cold chain industry,” Monroy said.