June 6, 2008

Pork shortage in Philippine province worsened by rampant illegal trade


The current pork shortage in the Philippine province of Marinduque is compounded by massive shipping out and illegal trade of pigs, local officials said.

Carlito Fabalena, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), confirmed that a kilogramme of pork ranges from PHP160 to a high of PHP190.

Fabalena said pig traders from other Philippine provinces prefer to buy meat and livestock from Marinduque because the province is free from foot and mouth disease (FMD).

The Provincial Veterinary Office reported that in 2007, more than 12,000 heads of fattener hogs and 36,604 heads of piglets were shipped out of the province.

Provincial veterinarian, Josue Victoria, confirmed that even breeder hogs are being transported out of the province, further threatening pig production in Marinduque.

High cost of inputs, particularly feeds, has prompted hog raisers to sell their pigs outside the province for bigger profits, observers said.

US$1 = PHP44.18 as of June 6, 2008