Aboitiz, Gokongwei companies eye agriculture exports to Singapore

MANILA, Philippines — The Gokongwei and Aboitiz families are targeting to export agricultural products to Singapore.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said technical teams from Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority just started a 10-day on-site inspection of vegetables, fruits, hogs, poultry and egg farms as the Philippines prepares to export its agricultural products to the neighboring ASEAN country.

Among the facilities to be inspected include the Pilmico layer farm in Tarlac of the Aboitiz Group and the Robina Farm in Cavite of the Gokongwei-led Universal Robina Corp.

Also to be inspected are the egg layer farm of Gemsun Marketing and egg processing of Novoagri Inc., both in Batangas, Ana’s Breeder Farms in Davao City, and Matutum Meat Packing Corp. in General Santos City.

“The inspection of the Philippine farms is the first step in the planned importation by Singapore of several agricultural commodities from the Philippines,” Piñol said.

Among the commodities identified for export to Singapore are high-value vegetables and fruits, pork and processed pork products, dressed chicken and eggs, and some fisheries products.

At the tail end of 2018, Malaysia --Singapore’s traditional egg supplier -- announced it was scaling down its egg exports to ensure sufficient supply for its domestic market.

The Department of Agriculture then reached out to Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines Kok Li Peng to make a formal offer to supply their food requirements.

The Philippines should have started exporting pork to Singapore during the Aquino administration but the ebola outbreak in Bulacan in 2009 halted the plan.

The DA will hold a Philippine Agri-Aqua Food Show in Singapore next month to showcase the best products that the country can offer to Singapore.

By May, a Singapore delegation is expected to visit the country to formalize the start of Philippines’ exports to its Asian neighbor.