ILOILO – The provincial government has assured the public of sufficient pork supply as the holiday season approaches.
“So far, based on our inventory, we are recovering from the impact of African Swine Fever (ASF),” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., citing on-ground assessment, particularly in municipal and barangay markets.
Demand for pork is seen to rise for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It is not harmful to humans but can devastate pig populations, leading to significant economic losses in the livestock industry. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected pigs, contaminated feed, or farm equipment, and there is no known cure or vaccine yet.
“We continue to monitor public markets and barangays, and our municipalities and villages have a stable pork supply,” Defensor said.
The latest report from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed an addition of around 10,000 heads of swine to the province’s inventory. This figure is expected to grow further in the coming weeks.
Moreover, the ongoing importation of swine from ASF-free areas across the country has significantly augmented the local supply, helping meet the pork demand of Ilonggos, said Defensor.
As of November 18, the PVO reported an average pork price of P343 per kilogram and :197 per kilogram for live weight.
Defensor noted that in some municipalities, pork prices have dropped to as low as P280 per kilogram, reflecting gradual recovery from the ASF outbreak that began in October 2022.
The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) monitoring on November 25 showed pork ham and liempo prices ranging from P330 to P350 per kilogram in selected markets across Western Visayas, with minimal changes recorded this month.
Last week, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. dismissed the need for a price cap on pork, including lechon (roasted pig), despite the ASF’s lingering effects.
“No, I don’t believe in price caps, especially on roasted pigs. Technically, it’s a luxury item,” Laurel said during an ambush interview at the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc.’s annual meeting.
He assured that while a slight price increase is expected during the holiday peak, the country’s pork supply remains stable.
“I don’t think prices will increase significantly. Maybe just minor increments,” he added.
Chester Tan, chair of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, echoed Laurel’s confidence, assuring sufficient pork supply for December, including for lechoneros. He credited months of planning and coordination with the DA for this stability.
Meanwhile, Laurel highlighted that pork imports have bolstered the country’s supply, with over 517.86 million kilograms of imported pork arriving from January to September this year — 10% higher than last year’s figures.
The DA continues to mitigate ASF’s impact through government-controlled vaccination programs and stricter biosecurity protocols, including inspection stations in Metro Manila and nearby provinces./PN
