DA Sec. Laurel: Increase number of agri-ports in the country with private sector support; Business Sector and Department of Agriculture to work together to lower food costs

17 September 2024 – “There’s a lack of ports in the country, that’s why the food cost in our country is very high and that’s why I’m asking the help of Makati Business Club and other groups to lobby. If possible, private sector din magtayo ng agri ports. If we have the right number of agri-port all over the country, yung cost bababa, yung bigas bababa, fertilizer bababa, seed cost bababa. We really need the ports.” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. said at the Makati Business Club’s first Agriculture and Food Security Summit — “Food is Everyone’s Business” media conference.

Secretary Laurel focused on the government’s vision to improve the agriculture sector and uplift the lives of Filipino farmers and fishermen. This includes enhancing crop yields through advanced technologies, improving food distribution to reduce waste, and supporting investments in post harvest infrastructure. It aligns with MBC’s goal of achieving food security by supporting partnerships between business and farmer cooperatives and lowering local produce costs.

“To build a sustainable food system, we must put smallholder farmers at the center of this transition. Their participation and inclusion are not just beneficial but essential to achieving long-term food security,” Jollibee Foods Corporation Philippines President Joseph Tanbuntiong said. Tanbuntiong highlighted Jollibee’s framework in collaborating with cooperatives and farmers. 

Tayag, along with the heads of the working groups, has been setting the stage for the summit through a series of strategic meetings where key stakeholders from the private sector, cooperatives, and the Department of Agriculture (DA) collaborated to shape the summit’s agenda and objectives. These preparatory discussions focused on pinpointing critical challenges, developing actionable strategies, and ensuring alignment among all parties. 

“The irony was called out at the outset by our MBC chair in his opening remarks: the producers of food do not benefit from high prices. Farmers compose the biggest group of workers, yet they remain among the poorest in the country,” said Manolito “Lito” Tayag, MBC Trustee and Head of the Agriculture Committee. Tayag added, “The business sector, learning from the success of our individual industries, should apply the same success factors to agriculture and food security.”

The summit also featured a series of panel discussions led by MBC Trustees Dr. Aris Alip and Doris Magsaysay-Ho with MBC member Dickie Buhain. Dr. Alip led the discussion on cooperatives, emphasizing their role to support local businesses’ value chains, and community development. Buhain’s session on agri-tech highlighted the mindful application of technologies that can make farming more efficient and data-driven. Magsaysay-Ho focused on logistics, exploring innovative solutions to streamline supply chains and reduce food waste. 

Dr. Aris Alip remarked, “The cooperative sector plays a big role in agriculture. We will support your [Sec. Laurel] drive to help the cooperatives because that way, we can help increase productivity and income while lowering the prices of commodities.”

The summit addressed critical concerns related to food availability, affordability, and production. By bringing together government officials, private sector leaders, and industry experts, MBC underscored its commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration to tackle food security issues in the Philippines.

The “Food is Everyone’s Business” summit marks a pivotal moment in MBC’s ongoing efforts to engage stakeholders and drive sustainable development in agriculture. The discussions and insights shared at the event will play a crucial role in shaping future policies and initiatives aimed at securing a stable and prosperous food supply for the Philippines. 

During the event, MBC signed partnerships with CARD Business Development Service Foundation, Jollibee Group Foundation, National Confederation of Cooperatives, Cargill Philippines, and AGREA Foundation all aimed towards working together and empowering cooperatives. MBC also joined PBSP’s Kain Tayo Pilipinas to unite the private sector and government in tackling food security and malnutrition. 

MBC’s Agriculture Committee will continue the work that was launched in the Agriculture and Food Security Summit.

For more information about the summit and future initiatives, visit https://mbc.com.ph/agriculture/mbc-agriculture-and-food-security-summit-2024/ to be updated.