By Jenina P. Iba帽ez, Reporter
MANUFACTURERS are recovering operations this month after disruptions in the packaging supply chain during the lockdown cut production by as much as half.
Marca Leon Assistant Vice-President for Sales and Distribution Nestor Latay said the company is now able to produce cooking oil, but operations slowed down in the previous two months as packaging suppliers lacked raw materials such as paper and plastic.
鈥淔or the month of April and May we were able to serve around 51% of the total requirement, and the major reason for this is our packaging material suppliers cannot supply due to lockdown,鈥 he said.
The Printing Industries Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PIAP), which includes member companies that produce labels for fast-moving consumer goods, had shut down most operations except those in the supply chain for essential goods.
The Trade department鈥檚 Bureau of Philippine Standards requires consumer goods sold locally to have a particular set of information in labels, including their registered trade name and ingredients.
PIAP President Benedict S. Santiago said a smaller percentage of their workforce were able to manufacture labels for medicines, rubbing alcohol, and testing kits.
鈥沦濒辞飞. Talagang apektado鈥 lahat ng industry kailangan ng packaging materials. (The industry has been affected鈥ll industries need packaging materials),鈥 he said, noting that industries affected most by the pandemic have not been able to order usual printed materials such as brochures and catalogues.
Mr. Santiago said packaging labels production was at almost 20% of operations during the stricter lockdown as they catered to some manufacturers of essential products, but has since ramped up to at least 50%.
Kurin, a company that produces cleaning products, saw 30-40% more demand in recent months.
But Kurin Chief Executive Officer Edgar Lance L. Capulong said that packaging suppliers had not been able to commit to demand due to their minimized workforce and problems with importing materials.
鈥淲e ended up having to try to fast-track our accreditation for (new) suppliers,鈥 he said.
The company had problems with supplies for PET bottles and pouches, and replaced its spray nozzles during the lockdown.
Mr. Capulong said the company was able to deliver its commitments with its inventories until April, but had trouble by May and June. Production was slowed not just by lack of supplies, but also by the lack of public transportation for workers.
Marca Leon鈥檚 Mr. Latay said packaging materials supply is expected to improve as suppliers boost operations through the return of their workforce.
鈥淲e鈥檙e expecting that by the end of June鈥e鈥檒l be back to the normal operations,鈥 he said.
As for Kurin鈥檚 Mr. Capulong, he said suppliers are expressing more optimism.
鈥Dahil first week pa lang ng June, we haven鈥檛 absolutely felt it. They鈥檙e notifying us; they鈥檙e telling us they鈥檙e resuming, but as far as actual fulfillments concerned we鈥檙e still waiting,鈥 he said.
