February 18, 2008

 

Philippine hog raisers advised to freeze their pork for easier shipping

 

 

Visayas and Mindanao hog producers are advised to send frozen products to Manila instead of sending live animals for easier shipping.

 

This was the suggestion of Albert Suansing, the newly appointed head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Suansing, a former truck operator, said that many hogs are dying during transport, which contributes to pollution and other environment problems.

 

However, he admitted that his suggestion has setbacks because consumers have always preferred meat freshly processed rather than frozen. 

 

The proposal came after a shipping company has already banned transport of live animals.  Solid Shipping Lines announced that it will abandon livestock shipments starting May after several government agencies complained of pollution and sanitation issues. Solid handles an average of about 85 hog vans a month, which contains about 70 to 90 heads.

 

Clem Paylangco, deputy executive director of the Philippine Shippers' Bureau, said that the company is still in negotiations "to avert a disruption in the supply chain."

 

Buencamino, executive director of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc., said that a huge market awaits livestock farmers who process their produce in a slaughterhouse and comply with the association's standards.

 

During a presentation at the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines on February 8, Buencamino said his members are "forced" to import meat products as the local market are unable to supply "manufacturing-grade meats" or processed-meat products.

 

The Department of Agriculture has imposed strict regulations for meat imports to protect the country from diseases of hoofed animals and bird flu. This resulted to inconsistent supply of meat imports.

 

In 2004, Buencamino reported that the country imported 199 million kilos of meat which decreased to 178 million kilos in 2005. Imports went up to 181 million kilos in 2006, finally hitting 249 million kilos last year.

 

Of these figures, approximately 24 percent comprised of beef, 30 percent was buffalo meat, 29 percent was pork such as fats, skins and rind, and 17 percent was poultry.

 

Should the domestic market be able to give manufacturing-grade meats such as backs and boneless meat [of pork], Buencamino said they will never import as "importing is hard nowadays".