Marcos OKs implementation of food logistics action agenda

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the proposal of the Department of Trade and Industry to implement a three-year Food Logistics Action Agenda, which is aimed at revolutionizing the country’s food distribution system.

According to the Presidential Communications Office on Wednesday, the food action plan's main goal is to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food for Filipinos.

It also seeks to ensure that consumers get the right product of food at the right time. The action plan is a whole-of-government approach where key agencies involved shall prioritize, focus, and allocate funding on specific initiatives.

According to the PCO, the three-year Food Logistics Action Agenda contains six key strategies to ensure success.

These include revolutionizing the Philippines’ food distribution system, reducing transport and logistics costs, increasing investments in logistics infrastructure on transportation and storage, and addressing other supply chain gaps.

Further, the agenda also aims to heighten enforcement measures against hoarding, smuggling, overstaying food imports, and monitoring of warehouses or cold storage facilities, as well as resorting to the use of information and communications technology to improve logistics performance.

Meanwhile, the DTI has already outlined efforts to integrate food terminals into the logistics framework through the use of existing food terminals.

The agency also aims to build additional food hubs in Metro Manila and other areas in the country.

The DTI said that through the integration of food terminals, the supply chain from producers to consumers could be shortened, with standardized logistical processes and transportation system directed towards specific destinations.

Marcos approved the plan during a sectoral meeting in Malaca?ang with Secretaries Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry, Benjamin Abalos of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Ivan Uy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and Frederick Go of the Office of Presidential Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs,  Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban of the Department of Agriculture, Undersecretary Zeno Ronald Abenoja of the Department of Finance, Undersecretary Elmer Sarmiento of the Department of Transportation, Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic and Development Authority and Director General Ernesto Perez of the Anti Red Tape Authority. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News