The shortage of agricultural products has been affecting many food businesses which need ingredients like garlic, onion, and sugar.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) hopes that the shortage of several agricultural products will subside by October.
“One issue that has been brought to our attention is the shortage of agricultural products like onions,” PCCI President George T. Barcelon said adding “what we’re seeing is that the supply of agricultural products is at critical level.”
Last week, officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) presented to the lawmakers its outlook on the country’s onion and garlic supply and demand situation for this year.
For garlic, DA said the country would suffer a 16-day shortage of garlic by the end of the year as total supply, including imports, is expected to have a shortfall of about 63,850 metric tons short (MT).
Agriculture Undersecretary-and Spokesman Kristine Y. Evangelista also said that the country does not have enough supply in garlic because of its dependence to importation.
Agriculture officials confirmed that the country is indeed suffering from a shortage of white onion. Bureau of Plant industry (BPI) Assistant Director Ariel J. Bayot said that the country’s combined onion supply, both locally- produced and imported, will only last roughly 8 to 9 months from January.
Aside from onion and garlic, sugar also has its own supply issue in the country. The Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. had confirmed to the Business Mirror that the scarcity of premium bottler's grade refined sugar has hampered its bottling operations.
Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Chief David John Thaddeus Alba has assured Coca-Cola that the importation of additional bottler's grade refined sugar is being expedited. The SRA chief also affirmed that Coca-Cola's supply of bottler's grade refined sugar for its plants had run out, causing some of its units to shut down.
Three weeks ago, major beverage companies like Coca-cola, Pepsi, and ARC issued a joint statement stating that premium bottler's grade refined sugar is in low supply. This has adversely affected many small businesses like sari-sari stores and carinderias who rely on softdrinks as part of their daily earnings.
Members from the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners (PASCO) told that their average daily soft drink sales fell to P600 from around P1,500 because of the sugar shortage.
PASCO President Cristina A. Constantino said that the current supply issue could persist for more than three months for some wholesalers.
Tags: #ProductShortage, #Agriculture, #Business