MANILA -- President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday cited the importance of addressing the logistics problem in the agriculture sector to lower food prices in the country.

Marcos made this remark in a Cabinet meeting in Malacañang, where issues on the movement of agricultural products were raised. 

“We cannot afford to do that anymore. The logistical challenge is clear, and we are not handling it,” Marcos said during the meeting, where other issues raised include complaints of forwarders and cargo handlers on policies imposed by local government units (LGUs) as well as the presence of many checkpoints.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said he would discuss the issue with the chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), particularly on the revival of express lanes for food trucks, which was carried out during pandemic-induced lockdowns.

“Actually sir, kung tutuusin hindi talaga dapat eh. Dapat free-flowing eh. Pero sometimes they use – possibly because of avian flu et cetera ‘yung mga ganun. Baka ginagawan ng excuse eh,” Abalos told the President.

Another possible solution raised is applying technology to address the problem.

For instance, agricultural products will be tracked along the way to identify bottlenecks and raise possible issues with the concerned LGU with the help of the DILG.

Technology could also be used to determine areas having good harvest, enabling the government to bring their produce to locations experiencing food shortages.

Experts say while production is the starting point of food security, distribution is also an important factor that must be considered. (PND)