June 12, 2025

 

Philippines injects US$27.3 million to boost hog production

 

 

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated ₱1.6 billion (US$27.3 million) to boost the country's hog production, which is still reeling from the effects of the local outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).

 

Citing the report from DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Palace Press Officer (PCO) Secretary Claire Castro said the amount will be used for the hog repopulation efforts of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration. She said it will be used for the procurement of 13,000 finishers, hogs which are in the final phase of their growth period and are ready for slaughter, and 30,000 breeders or sows used for reproduction.

 

"These are just some of the activities they will be doing to alleviate the current high price of pork," Castro said.

 

DA has also started distributing vaccines to protect existing pig populations from ASF.

 

"The President wants to provide the lowest prices for basic commodities in the market," Castro said.

 

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) undersecretary made the remark when asked about the government's initiatives to help bring down the price of pork.

 

Based on its price monitoring in major markets in Metro Manila as of 11 June 2025, DA said the price for:

 

    - Pork ham was ₱350 (US$5.97) to ₱430 (US$7.34) per kilo;

 

    - Pork belly was ₱370 (US$6.31) to ₱490 (US$8.36) per kilo;

 

    - Frozen kasim (pork shoulder) was ₱230 (US$3.92) to ₱300 (US$5.11) per kilo;

 

    - Frozen liempo (pork belly) was ₱290 (US$4.94) to ₱350 (US$5.97) per kilo.

 

Prior to the first reported ASF incident in the Philippines in 2019, DA said the country's pig population was at 14 million.

 

However, it went down to eight million due to the government's mass culling initiative to stop the spread of the disease.

 

Laurel called on the local swine industry to increase their production to address the six million deficit.

 

- Business Mirror