The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Productivity  and Development Center, in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization  (APO), has successfully conducted the Workshop on Modern Food Transportation  and Regulation last 13 to 15 July 2021 via videoconference. This workshop was one  of the virtual programs held under the APO’s Digital Multi-Country Program.  

The three-day virtual event tackled relevant information on global trends,  challenges and opportunities on food transportation, best practices, relevant  management system (ISO 23412:2020) and the impetus to modernize food delivery  systems. It also delved on policies/regulations to seize the opportunities as well as  cope with the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of  smart transformation of food transportation in member countries to meet modern consumers’ needs such as timely delivery, high quality, and safe food from secure  sources was also emphasized.

 

Welcome remarks by Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan Jr., President and CEO Development Academy of the Philippines | APO Alternate Director for the Philippines 

DAP President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan Jr.  highlighted, in his welcome remarks, that the current pandemic exposed the  vulnerability of the global food supply chain particularly in the area of food logistics, as  evidenced by the delays and congestion created by border restrictions and other  measures undertaken to contain the spread of the virus. Hence, industries were urged  to embrace technology-based innovations to contribute in accelerating food system  transformation in particular the use of big data, internet of things, robotics and automation. However, mainstreaming these innovations largely depends on the  manner by which regulatory bodies steer the direction of its regulated actors to adapt  smart approaches in operations and policies that underpin these regulations. 

Attended by overseas and local participants from Bangladesh, India, Islamic  Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Republic of China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey,  Vietnam, and Philippines, the workshop had top-notch experts and practitioners in their  field namely, Dr. Sahat M. Pasaribu of Indonesia, key officers of the Yamato Holdings  Co. Ltd. of Japan, Dr. Rodney Wee of Asia Cold Chain Centre of Singapore, Dr.  Florentin Blanc of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development  (OECD), and our very own, Ms. Cherrie Atilano of the AGREA from the Philippines. 

The last day of the workshop capped off with group presentations on the  challenges and opportunities in food transportation, the needed regulations to address  these challenges and opportunities, and the management systems, facilities,  infrastructure, institutional mechanisms, and system requirements to be able to install  or strengthen and modernize food transportation.

Closing remarks by Arnel D. Abanto, Vice-President and Managing Director Productivity and DEvelopment Center | Development Academy of the Philippines

n his closing remarks, DAP Vice-President Arnel D. Abanto congratulated all  the participants for completing the three-day workshop with the hope to be able to  create a ripple effect as they apply their learnings from this multi-country program. To  help transform and modernize food transportation, he underscored the following key  considerations in identifying regulatory measures: a) achieving environment-friendly  and sustainable development; b) implementing food traceability; and c) developing a  viable food distribution channel. He further added that the biggest aid to strengthen  modern food transportation and regulation does not only lie in the state-of-the art  technological advancements such as cold chain infrastructure and applications, but  also in the innovative and collaborative action among agencies and organizations at the national, regional and global scale in carefully designing a responsive food logistics  plan which incorporates the necessary food safety requirements.  

The DAP and APO, together with its partners in the government sector and the  private sector hope to positively impact the food transportation sector and the overall  food system in the coming years. For more information, visit www.dap.edu.ph, email  pdc@dap.edu.ph or call 8632-2156/2137.