April 30, 2020

Philippines to transport surplus pork to Luzon

The Department of Agriculture is now coordinating with Mindanao hog raisers for the transport of its surplus pork to meet demand in Luzon, agriculture spokesperson Noel Reyes said Tuesday, reported The Philippine Star.

"We are just negotiating on the price and quality of the pork," Reyes said.

Reyes said Davao could supply up to 500 tonnes of surplus pork monthly.

General Santos City and Cagayan de Oro, on the other hand, can supply a combined 3,000 tonnes of pork monthly.

Metro Manila is the largest consumer of pork in the country.

Over the weekend, agriculture group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura said bringing surplus pork supply in Mindanao and even some regions in the Visayas to Luzon would balance the pork demand of the country.

"The pork from Mindanao will help fill the needs of our supermarkets, while the pork from Luzon will continue to supply our local wet markets and pamilihang bayan," Sinag said.

Cold storages in Southern Mindanao and some regions in Visayas are filled to capacity with stocks of surplus pork lasting for more than three months.

The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon has resulted in the increase of pork supply in the region with demand declining by at least 20% as major fastfood chains, restaurants, and tourist sites remain closed.