The government plan to import pork from overseas suppliers does not sit well with stakeholders who pointed out on Tuesday the Philippines has enough frozen supply in cold storages across the country.
The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) disputed claims by the Department of Agriculture (DA) of a 10-day pork deficit as basis for the planned importation.
But Arnel de Mesa, DA assistant secretary for operations, clarified that the deficit pertained to local supply as consequence of the African swine fever (ASF) that continues to spread across the country.
According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), 10 regions, 18 provinces, 44 municipalities and 97 barangays have reported active ASF cases.
“The imports will keep the balance. We need that to ensure that pork will remain affordable,” De Mesa said.
According to De Mesa, a 10-day oversupply of pork was recorded as of the quarter ending September but seen reversing to deficit state in the final three months due to historically strong demand for meat during the long Christmas holidays.The price of pork kasim in markets ranges from P260 to P330 per kilo while pork liempo sells from P290 to P400 per kilo.
DA monitoring of backyard hogs sell from P140 to P160 per kilo while commercial hogs sell from P130 to P180 per kilo.
Jayson Cainglet, SINAG executive director, said there is no reason for consumers to panic as there remains a large volume of pork stock in cold storages across the country even as live hog prices fall due to the ASF.
Cainglet cited data from the National Meat Inspection Services showing that as of 18 September, a total 87,338.57 metric tons (MT) of frozen pork remain in accredited cold storages.
The bulk or 85,306.30 MT are imported stock and the balance of 2,032.27 MT are from local meat suppliers.
“Local producers are bearing the cost of increased biosecurity at the farm level, continued regular testing of pigs for ASF and related diseases, stricter ordinances on pig movement; yet, there is no real quarantine inspection of imported pork. Worse, there is also no more indemnification for local hog raisers when hit by ASF so there is reluctance to report as raisers will not get any indemnification,” Cainglet said.
Based on data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, the Philippines allowed the entry of 405.92 million kilos of pork in the first eight months this year.
