PAMPI directs members not to buy local pork

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) has directed its members not to buy local pork until the government can issue an assurance that the country is free from the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The decision was prompted by the seizure of branded and homemade hotdogs, tocino, and longganisa that tested positive of ASF.

“We have more confidence in our sources that are imported. Local pork subjects us to risks,” PAMPI spokesperson Rex Agarrado told reporters ono Tuesday.

“We know that there are unscrupulous traders who would take advantage of the situation; who would possibly buy sick animals, convert them to meat and deliver them to us,” Agarrado noted.

Ninety-five percent of pork and pork materials used by PAMPI is imported.

The 5% locally sourced pork is equivalent to P1.3 billion.

PAMPI is also calling on the government to conduct random tests on pork, not just in ASF-positive areas in Luzon, but even in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Asked if PAMPI is getting back at the Samahan ng Industriyang Agrikultura (SINAG) which it suspects of leaking reports that branded processed meat products were positive for ASF, Agarrado said: “We are business people who make our decisions based on the risks that we take.”

SINAG chairman Rosendo So is also blaming a member of PAMPI for supposedly bringing in ASF-infected meat from abroad.

“Hindi ba ang nahuling importer sa Cebu last June na nagpuslit/nagpasok ng pork imports mula sa Poland ay miyembro ng grupong ito?” So noted in a statement.

He said 80% of meat processors in the country do not belong to PAMPI.

So noted that hograisers voluntarily submit their hogs for tests and that they have certifications to prove their pigs are negative of ASF.

The National Federation of Hog Raisers Inc. is opposing PAMPI’s decision to import all its pork requirements.

“Yung local pork natin, in the first place, sabi nga natin, safe, no … And secondly, tayo ba ay bibili ng produkto galing sa ibang bansa o galing sa isang lugar na may ASF? Hindi natin gagawin yon,” said federation chairman and president Chester Warren Tan.

Tan reported that since last week, there has been no new ASF incident in the country.

Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Cynthia Villar questioned PAMPI’s decision.

“Visayas and Mindanao, wala namang sign ng ASF. Bakit hindi sila bumili doon?” Villar said.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, in a press conference, dismissed PAMPI’s decision not to buy local pork anymore while the ASF has not been eradicated.

“Ang PAMPI naman have the option not to buy here. They can import,  ‘yun naman, from non-affected countries,” Dar said. —VDS, GMA News