SINGAPORE’s Agriculture and Veterinary Agency (AVA) has begun its 10-day on-site inspection of farms in the Philippines which it might tap to supply the small island republic with vegetables, fruit, hogs, poultry and eggs, agriculture officials said.
In a social media post, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the Singapore authorities are inspecting, among others, Gemsun Marketing, an egg farm in Batangas; Novoagri, Inc., a Batangas egg processor; the Pilmico Layer Farm in Tarlac; the Robina Farm No. 23 in Naic, Cavite; Ana’s Breeder Farms in Davao City; and Matutum Meat Packing Corp. in Gen. Santos City.
Malaysia cut back on its exports of agriculture products to the island, leaving Singapore to search for alternative suppliers.
Singapore has expressed interest in high-value vegetables and fruit, pork and processed pork products, dressed chicken and eggs, and seafood including white shrimp.
“Last year, following reports that Malaysia was scaling down its exports of poultry and eggs to Singapore, the Department of Agriculture (DA) immediately reached out to the then Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines, Kok Li Peng, to make a formal offer to supply (its) food requirements,” Mr. Piñol said.
“Ambassador Kok immediately arranged for the visit of an inspection team right after the Chinese New Year so that the proposed production areas of the commodities for export could be inspected,” Mr. Piñol added.
Chicken exports to Singapore from the Philippines are also expected to address oversupply conditions in the Philippines. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

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