March 10, 2020

Philippine government assures stable pork supply amid over PHP80 billion losses

The Philippines has sufficient pork supply despite the impact of African swine fever (ASF) on the country's hog raising sector, the Agriculture Department said on Monday.

Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said the country has 12.8 million hogs, of which only around 237,000 infected pigs have been culled as of March 2 this year.

The culled pigs represent less than 2% of the total population of hogs in the Philippines, Cayanan said. "We still have sufficient [supply] including the imports that we have for the next six months," he added.

A swine industry group meanwhile said the situation was more serious, and that a shortage of pork was possible in the coming months.

Swine Industry Foundation president Arnulfo Frontuna said local hog raisers have already suffered PHP80 billion in losses since ASF was detected in swine herds last year.

"We have a PHP260 billion industry, 30% of that is gone," Frontuna stated.

He said at the rate the infection was spreading, the group expects 60% of the country's swine population to be affected this year. "In 5-6 months, we will have problems with the availability of pork," he added.

Several lawmakers meanwhile said they were disappointed over the government's failure to control the spread of ASF as the disease has now infected swine in over 600 barangays in 19 provinces.