By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is taking a big move as its business unit San Miguel Foods (SMF) gears up to transfer its nationwide hog inventory and facilities to the local raisers.
In the statement sent to THEPHILBIZNEWS, SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang explained this move.
“We want to provide our local piggery businesses a chance to thrive in these trying times, and encourage more smallholder farmers to grow this industry locally and responsibly” Ang said.
“Furthermore, this will allow the local farmers to supply the requirements of their respective regions and help strengthen biosecurity practices,” he added.
As bans on the transportation of pork and pork products remain in place across the country due to the African Swine Fever, Monterey, a national player, has found the situation challenging, which made it decide to shift gears and transfer inventories to local raisers.
“This is one way to stabilize the supply of affordable pork in the country. More importantly, it will help boost the local hog raising industry. They can run this business at a lower cost, making it more sustainable. This also opens the doors for more Filipinos to become agri-entrepreneurs,” Ang concluded.