Supply Chain Disruptions During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Milkfish Industry in Pangasinan

Date

6-2022

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Mar B. Cruz

Committee Member

Marjorie S. Florentino, Normito R. Zapara, Jr.

Abstract

Milkfish (Chanos chanos) popularly known as Bangus, is the national fish of the Philippines. It is available all over the country since it is adaptable and can survive in confined spaces. It is also known for its better food-converter ability. It is usually cultured in ponds, pens, and cages. Milkfish production has been increasingly known throughout the years. Region 1 is considered the top producing region in the country, and among its provinces, Pangasinan bagged the highest milkfish production. Hence, the research locale for this study.

However, the emergence the COVID-19 Pandemic left the milkfish industry with disruption in each key player of the supply chain all which are considered important and have an equal contribution to the overall chain. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Milkfish Industry in Pangasinan. Specifically, it intends to a.) present the overall supply chain in Pangasinan, b.) describe the pre-pandemic and pandemic practices of the key players in the milkfish supply chain, and c.) determine the issues and challenges brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Primary data were gathered through interviews with the selected 75 respondents of the study - 15 producers, 10 brokers, 10 assemblers-distributors, 10 buyers outside the province, 10 processors, 10 retailers, and 10 consumers. They were interviewed using sets of guided questionnaires supplemented by additional questions to further explain their answers. Secondary data such as the Executive Orders implemented in the province and the milkfish supply chain in different major milkfish producing provinces were gathered from the official website of Pangasinan and a study conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), respectively. Furthermore, this study utilized journals, articles, and publications by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and other relevant online sources, and researches.

The tools used to analyze the milkfish industry were the Supply Chain, SIPOC Diagram, and Detailed Process Map. The milkfish supply chain was used to identify the key players in the milkfish industry. Furthermore, the SIPOC diagram was utilized to give an overview of the overall process in the industry, and lastly, the detailed process map provided a step-by-step process of the practices conducted by each key player in the chain. On the other hand, this study focused on the different community quarantine implemented in the province such as the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Extreme Enhanced Community Quarantine (EECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), and Alert Level 2. This is to further identify the extent of the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Results showed that the overall practices in the milkfish industry include pre-seeding/pre-stocking, stocking/seeding, culture periods, harvesting and post-harvest, processing, buying, and selling. On the other hand, the first implemented community quarantine which is the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has contributed much effect to the practices of the key players in the milkfish industry. Each key player was affected in terms of mobility, cost, supply, demand, and the delay in the process of each practice.

Recommendations were formulated with the premise of what would the key players in the milkfish industry do if another pandemic emerged again. It was recommended that the producers and processors form or join existing cooperatives for them to have a means of help in terms of financing and marketing. This will give them the opportunity to arrange functions in terms of raising capital and bank loans as well as secure suppliers of inputs. For the brokers/consignacion, it was recommended for them to track the period of the harvest of the producers to at least have an overview of the supply and be able to prevent oversupply which caused the low prices of milkfish. For the other traders, recommendations were to have coordination with the source of supply and buyers, utilization of e-commerce, widen distribution areas, and invest in storage equipment.

This study would be significant to the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the local government of Pangasinan, key players in the milkfish industry, small businesses, and future researchers as this gives an overview of how the COVID-19 Pandemic affected the industry and provided recommendations on how to be adaptive and resilient.

Language

English

LC Subject

Milkfish industry--Philippines, Supply chain management, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2023

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2022 M17 F47

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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