September 5, 2008

The Philippine Department of Agriculture has launched the "Piglet Restocking Programme" in the province of Antique.

Out of 181 beneficiaries allotted for Antique, partial deliveries were already made among the municipalities of Patnongon, Barbaza and Tibiao, with each receiving 20 piglets through subsidies of PHP 1,000 per piglet. These shall be distributed at a minimum of two piglets per pig farmer.

The programme aims to increase pork production in Regions III, IV-A, V and VI to meet demand in Metro Manila, and to reach the consumers in time for the Christmas season.

The programme was meant to mitigate the impact of pork shortage in Metro Manila, caused by pork inventory losses suffered by Regions III and IV-A when disease outbreaks hit their swine sector last year.

Regions II, IV-B and V also experienced a drop in pork production in recent years, therefore they were unable to supply enough pork to Metro Manila.

The programme will continue until the objective is achieved and the key pork producing region supply Metro Manila recovers from their losses.