President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday assured the public of sufficient food supply and stable prices for basic necessities despite ongoing geopolitical developments, citing strong coordination between government and industry players.
The assurance came during the President’s inspection of the Laguna distribution center of Century Pacific Food Inc., the country’s largest canned food manufacturer, where both government officials and company executives reported adequate inventory and production capacity.
“Ang supply ay hindi kailangan na mag-alala ang taong-bayan. Ang food supply natin ay sapat kahit na pangmatagalan,” President Marcos said.
“At bukod pa roon ay sila naman ay pumapayag na to keep the prices na hindi tataas ang presyo hangga’t kaya nila. Kaya siguro mga isang buwan, ‘yung iba baka dalawang buwan hindi magagalaw ‘yung presyo,” the President added.
Marcos said the visit forms part of broader efforts to ensure sufficient supply and keep prices stable through closer coordination with manufacturers, processors, and suppliers. He noted that other industry players have similarly assured the government of ample food stocks.
To reinforce this, the President directed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to maintain constant communication with food manufacturers and closely monitor supply and pricing nationwide.
“Ang directive is to constantly communicate with the manufacturers and the different industries to make sure that there will be enough supply para sa taumbayan,” DTI Secretary Maria Cristina Roque said during the visit.
Roque said the DTI has been conducting rounds of grocery stores and manufacturing facilities, including Century Pacific, to ensure sufficient supply of basic necessities and prime commodities for at least one to two months.
“So far, wala pa, and we’ve been monitoring on a daily basis, because we have a department in DTI that handles this particular scenario. So we have 18 regional offices from region one to region 18,” she said, when asked about possible hoarding.
“Nakatututok po kami dito sa groceries and supermarkets to make sure that there is no price increase for basic necessities and prime commodities.”
Century Pacific, which produces canned tuna and sardines, corned beef, and processed milk products, said it has sufficient inventory and production capacity despite global disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions.
The company noted that while such developments can trigger volatility in oil, shipping, and commodity costs, it has managed similar challenges in the past through disciplined planning, diversified sourcing, and strong operational execution.
It currently operates seven manufacturing hubs and 26 warehouses nationwide, including its Laguna distribution center, which has a storage capacity of 1.1 million cases, or around 36 million cans of food.
The President said the government will continue to monitor food supply and prices to ensure food sufficiency and protect the public interest amid evolving global challenges.