ASF in Mindanao may affect NCR pork supply

The group of pork producers is worried about the cases of African swine fever in Cagayan De Oro City and Misamis Oriental.

According to the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, this could affect Mindanao’s supply of pork to Metro Manila.

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“Ang Mindanao, nasa halos 30 percent or 25 percent ng baboy sa buong Pilipinas, diyan nanggagaling kaya dapat mapigil [ang pagkalat ng ASF] dahil kung hindi, lalo tayong magkakaroon ng kakulangan,” said Nicanor Briones, vice president of the group.

The shortage of supply has led to an increase in pork prices in Metro Manila. Apart from the implementation of the price ceiling, the importation of pork from Mindanao is the DA’s remedy for the increase in pork prices.

About 171 farmers have been affected and 650 pigs have been lost due to ASF in the affected areas, according to DA Northern Mindanao data.

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But according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), an attached agency of the DA, they think it will not affect the importation of pigs to Manila.

ASF in Mindanao may affect NCR pork supply

“We’re looking na hindi ito makakaapekto sa pagdadala sa atin ng baboy. Mostly ang dinadala sa ating baboy ay galing sa Bukidnon area,” said BAI Director Reildrin Morales.

DA Region 10 sent up to 8 container vans containing 580 pigs to Metro Manila. This Tuesday morning, about 1,350 live pigs were transported from Talao-Talao Port in Lucena City to Metro Manila.

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The Department of Agriculture said Monday that it will be difficult to replenish the pork supply in Luzon as long as there is no African swine fever (ASF) vaccine.

“With the vaccine now na na-develop sa Vietnam, palagay ko maximum 2 years maayos na natin ang ating industriya. Kaya tayong mga konsumer imbes na mag-adobo, magsahog-sahog lang muna sa gulay,” said DA Undersecretary Ernesto Gonzalez.

The solution for the DA is to increase imported meat to fill the market shortage.

“Wala tayong magagawa, kulang tayo sa supply kaya dodoblehin pa ‘yung importasyon kasi wala talaga, kulang talaga,” said Gonzalez.

This has angered local pork and chicken producers. The industry has already collapsed due to imported pork and poultry and plans to increase it.