27-6-2023 (MANILA) Amid the widespread outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in various parts of the country, particularly in the Visayas region, an official from the Department of Agriculture (DA) emphasized the necessity of increasing pork imports to address the supply shortage. The ranking official, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa, stated during a recent press conference that the DA is actively collaborating with the private sector to manage the import volume of pork products from other countries.
De Mesa assured the public that due to ASF’s impact on the local supply, the country will need to rely on pork imports until the end of the year. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), total pork imports from January to May have reached 229,201 kilos. De Mesa added that the DA continues to work closely with the private sector to determine the necessary import volume and assess the overall local production.
The DA anticipates lower pork imports this year compared to the previous year. De Mesa also mentioned that the declaration of a state of calamity, which would enable the allocation of funds for ASF vaccine importation, can only be implemented under specific conditions and depends on the national government’s decision.
AGAP party-list Representative Nicanor Briones has been advocating for the declaration of a state of calamity nationwide, allowing the necessary funds to be allocated for ASF vaccine importation, as the disease has now affected areas in the Visayas after wreaking havoc in Luzon. However, De Mesa noted that ASF cases in the Visayas have shown signs of being controlled, with a decrease in reported cases compared to previous figures.
De Mesa highlighted positive growth in livestock and poultry production, indicating a 4.1 percent increase in 2022 compared to 2021, as hog raisers in Luzon successfully repopulated their herds following the ASF outbreak. He stated that based on data, the industry has made a recovery.
Meanwhile, BAI Assistant Director Arlene Vytiaco revealed that laboratory tests confirmed the ASF-related deaths of piglets in Antique, one of the provinces affected by the outbreak. Vytiaco stated that the BAI continues to conduct surveillance efforts to contain the ASF outbreak in the Visayas.
The DA’s monitoring reveals that retail prices of pork ham range between P280 (S$6) and P390 (S$9) per kilo, while pork belly is priced between P340 (S$8) and P390 (S$9) per kilo. The price fluctuations reflect the impact of ASF on the local pork market.
