ILOILO – Concerns rise about the pork supply in Iloilo for the holidays after being hit by the African Swine Fever (ASF). However, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has put those fears to rest.
The governor assured the public that the province remains self-sufficient in its pork supply. This assurance came after surveying public markets and consulting vendors about their sources.
“We have assessed the current stock in our markets, inquiring from various towns about their sources. Our findings indicate that the pork in the market predominantly comes from our vicinity,” said Defensor.
This positive outlook comes even after a significant reduction in the province’s hog population. Data from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed a reduction of 200,504 heads or a 72 percent decrease in hogs due to ASF.
By September 2022, the hog count in the province was 277,421. However, as of Sept. 17 this year, this figure plummeted to 76,917.
Although hogs from other provinces in Western Visayas enter Iloilo, their numbers are minimal, accounting for about 13,484 heads. Here’s the breakdown:
* Aklan – 75 heads
* Antique – 2,257 heads
* Guimaras – 12 heads
* Negros Occidental – 8,533 heads
* Negros Oriental – 1,530 heads
* Oriental Mindoro – 1,077 heads
“We have a satisfactory supply, partly because other provinces are providing us with hogs,” said Defensor.
Due to ASF, Iloilo ceased shipping hogs to other regions starting from March this year. The number of hogs shipped from Iloilo to other parts varied monthly, with significant reductions in recent months: January 2022 (20,333), February 2022 (19,046), March 2022 (15,365), April 2022 (10,294), May 2022 (17,462), June 2022 (12,042), July 2022 (10,285), August 2022 (8,723), September 2022 (9,285), October 2022 (4,206), November 2022 (11,933), December 2022 (8,980), January 2023 (8,498), and February 2023 (897).
Importation?
When asked about the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) plan to import pork for the Christmas season, Defensor said, “We are informed by our data and the situation in our markets. As for importation, it will depend on our actual needs.”
Importing pork isn’t a new concept. Several malls, supermarkets, food chains, and restaurants in the country have imported pork for their businesses.
“I’m keen to understand the exact nature of our planned imports and their impact on the retail public market,” said Defensor.
The provincial government is taking steps for ASF recovery, focusing on backyard hog raisers. Under the sentinel program, each hog raiser will be given a piglet to raise. This piglet will be monitored for potential ASF infection.
The program’s implementation has specific criteria, set by the PVO and other authorities, to ensure its success.
The criteria:
* There has been no recorded ASF outbreak in the barangay for the past 40 days.
* If possible, the barangay had zero swine left.
* If there are swine left, it is encouraged that the hog raiser includes them in the sentinelling program.
* Biosecurity measures should still be in place.
The PVO, in collaboration with the DA and Municipal Agriculture Office, will be closely monitoring the sentinel piglet. After confirming the piglet is ASF-free, the farmer will receive two more sentinel piglets.
“Dapat wala sang baboy ang specific nga barangay, or kon may baboy nga nabilin, i-encourage ang farmers nga ang baboy nga ina will be part sang sentinelling program man,” PVO head Dr. Darel Tabuada said.
Within 40 days, the PVO, DA and Municipal Agriculture Office will monitor the sentinel piglet regularly by collecting blood samples to test for ASF infection.
Once the test shows the sentinel piglet is not infected, the farmer will be given two additional sentinel piglets.
“So, if ma-clear, puede na makabalik sa pagsagod sang baboy ang aton farmers sa sina nga barangay,” Tabuada added.
The PVO is in the process of identifying backyard farmers from various municipalities who are interested in this program, and these farmers come from the municipalities of Ajuy, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, and Barotac Viejo.
However, ASF has affected several municipalities in Iloilo, with 27 municipalities reporting cases as of September this year: Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Santa Barbara, Leganes, New Lucena, Mina, Janiuay, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Pototan, Dingle, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Maasin, Badiangan, Dueñas, San Enrique, Zarraga, Lambunao, and Carles.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa shared that the DA might consider importing pork to offset the predicted shortfall in the last quarter.
While the country had a 10-day surplus in the third quarter, there might be a need for imports to satisfy the heightened demand during the festive season.
Nevertheless, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, an agricultural group, believes that the Philippines has an ample stockpile of pork. This belief is supported by data from the Philippines’ National Meat Inspection Service, which indicates a rise in frozen pork inventory compared to the same period last year.
De Mesa emphasized the importance of balancing local production with imports to stabilize prices and fulfill the country’s pork needs amidst challenges like ASF. He also mentioned that the DA is contemplating whether to set a suggested retail price (SRP) for pork products.
In recent observations, the selling price of pork varies, ranging between P170 to P190 per kilogram, and sometimes reaching up to P200 in specific areas. (With a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)/PN
