Pork prices seen to increase as ASF hits 10 provinces

A pork producer group said on Monday that pork product prices were likely to increase further in the coming months due to the thinning supply caused by the African Swine Fever (ASF).

According to Maki Pulido’s “24 Oras” report, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (PPFP) predicted a P30 to P40 hike in the farmgate prices of pork products in the Luzon region from April to December.

A total of ten provinces and 48 municipalities in the country have been affected by ASF, including Cebu province, the report added.

“Nung tamaan 'yan, nakakasiguro kami na talagang tataas ang presyo dito sa Luzon, sa Metro Manila. Dahil nawala na rin yung galing sa Mindanao, eh napakamahal na rin dun sa kanila,” said PPFP chairperson Nicanor Briones.

(When we were hit by ASF, we knew that prices would spike here in Luzon and Metro Manila. We lost our supply from Mindanao and pork products there were also expensive.)

Latest data from the National Livestock Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed a possible deficit of 200,000 metric tons in the country’s pork requirement in June — equivalent to a month's worth of supply.

However, the DA said it may still change depending on the results of their study to be issued on March 31.

“Nung nakikita natin yung projection, talagang kukulangin tayo. That’s the time sinasabi ko nga kanina, if we have the final figure then we can say ilan ba import ilan ang volume kailangan,” said DA Spokesperson Rex Estoperez.

(When we saw the projection, we knew there would be a shortage. But if we have the final figure then maybe we can propose the volume that should be imported.)

However, the PPFP said that importation was not the solution to the supply issue as they reiterated their call for the government to provide financial aid to hog owners affected by ASF. It also said only live hogs affected by the virus should be culled and not all pigs within the 500-meter radius.

“Matagal na nating sinasabi na 'yung kanilang biosecurity noong September 2019, nag-meeting kami useless 'yan. Mauubos ang baboy kung di kayo maglagay ng budget at babayaran niyo ang tatamaan ng ASF,” said Briones.

(We’ve been saying this for so long. The biosecurity measures they have been implementing since 2019 were useless. We are going to run out of hogs if they don't allocate a budget for cash aid.)

Estoperez said the DA was still studying its budget to see if it can provide a P10,000 cash subsidy for every culled pig. He also defended the culling, saying it was well within the international standard in curbing the virus.

“May protocol tayong sinusunod diyan. Kung anuman gagawin natin, based on world animal health,” he said.

(We have protocols to follow. And whatever measures we take, they are all based on World Animal Health.) — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News