Filipinos pay more for food compared to our neighbors from other Southeast Asian countries. According to one study, the average cost of the recommended diet was US$ 1.55 per person/day in Bangkok and US$ 3.76 in Manila immediately before the pandemic (2019 prices in purchasing power parities). MBC recognizes that improving agricultural productivity and ensuring a fair profit share for farmers are essential components in achieving sustainable food security and reducing poverty.
MBC, partners, co-advocates, and government to collaborate with farmers and help in lowering food prices. The summit will support the development of a modern agricultural value chain which will improve the value and yield of PH crops, lower costs of agri-transportation, and encourage collaboration between the private sector, government, and cooperative enterprises.
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Agriculture and food security
There is no truer statement: food is everyone’s business. This was the theme of the “Agriculture and Food Security Summit” that the Makati Business Club (MBC) held last Sept. 16 at the BGC Arts Center.
(Opinion by MBC Trustee Dr. Aris Alip)
Makati Business Club Forum (September 16, 2024)
During a forum organized by the Makati Business Club Inc., Secretary Tiu Laurel underscored the crucial role of government and private sector partnership to effectively address the urgent need to modernize various sectors of agriculture.
DA to form consultative bodies in crafting policies on agricultural modernization
Laurel shared the agency’s plan to modernize Philippine agriculture during a forum hosted by the Makati Business Club Inc.
Port congestion holding up rice shipments–DA chief
“We still have old stocks [bought] at [higher] price to sell. I would expect that price should go down by mid-October based on the shipments that have arrived,” Laurel told reporters at a press conference organized by the Makati Business Club on Monday.
Port snags could delay expected fall in rice prices
“As of today, there’s only about 60,000 (metric tons) that have arrived, and we’re already at mid-September,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said at a briefing organized by the Makati Business Club.
Gov’t seeks ₱40.5-B investment in 17 ports
“We will come [up] with a proposal to the public for the available sites. Hopefully, there will be bidders or unsolicited proposals,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on the sidelines of an event organized by the Manila Overseas Press Club in Makati City.
| TIME | SEGMENT | TOPICS |
| 12:45 PM | Registration | |
| 1:00 PM | Call to Order | |
| 1:10 PM | Welcome Remarks | The Importance of Private Sector in the Agriculture |
| 1:15 PM | Keynote | Department of Agriculture’s Nine-Point Plan |
| 1:30 PM | Speaker Slot | Jollibee’s Story with Cooperatives |
| 1:45 PM | Panel Session 1: Cooperatives and Production | Professionalizing cooperatives, farmer education, and training |
| 2:15 PM | MOU Signing: Working Group Output – Adopt a Co-Op MOU Signing: Agrea Foundation x MBC | |
| 2:25 PM | Panel Session 2: Agri Technology | Farm mechanization, digitalization, and connectivity |
| 2:55 PM | Snacks / Break | |
| 3:05 PM | Panel Session 3: Logistics & Food Distribution | Farm-to-market roads, PPP opportunities for irrigation, ports, cold storage and food distribution |
| 3:35 PM | MOU Signing: MBC Agri Committee x KAIN Tayo Philippines of PBSP | |
| 3:45 PM | Closing Remarks | |
| 3:50 PM | Networking | |
| 4:00 PM | End |
The Cooperatives Working Group is one of three summit WGs. It aims to involve MBC members in boosting the cooperatives sector and unifying its initiatives together with the public and the private sector’s efforts.
MBC Trustee and Agriculture Committee Head Lito Tayag led the meeting. Dr. Aris Alip heads the Cooperatives Working Group. The meeting covered identifying challenges of cooperatives, discussing best practices for private sector-coop partnerships, and consulting on how private companies can help the sector.
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The working group talked about the Department of Agriculture’s Nine-Point Plan, global best practices that can be applied in the Philippines, and the “Big Brother” proposal.
MBC Member and True Digital Philippines’ Deputy Country Manager Dickie Buhain heads the Agri Tech WG. The meeting was moderated by MBC Project and Policy Director Catch Ofilada.
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Philippine competition body eyeing P2.4-B fine versus 12 onion traders
THE PHILIPPINE Competition Commission (PCC) has recommended a P2.4-billion fine for anti-competitive behavior against 12 importers that allegedly controlled more than half of the country’s onion imports at the height of the onion crisis more than a year ago, the presidential palace said on Sunday.
‘Malunggay’ for food security
Since food security is a key mandate of the Department of Agriculture (DA), promoting moringa (or “malunggay”) must also be its priority. This is important because of our alarming malnutrition problem.
Philippines secures nearly P5 billion for agricultural chain value development
The Philippines has secured almost P5 billion in financing from a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at improving the agricultural value chain in several agrarian reform communities.
PHL household food waste falls sharply to nearly 3 million tonnes a year — UNEP
PHILIPPINE households wasted nearly 3 million tonnes of food a year, down sharply from 2021 totals, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report.
