BOI approves P62 million hog production project

MANILA, Philippines — The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved incentives for a P62 million hog production project in Pampanga, which is expected to boost the country’s pork supply.

In a statement yesterday, the BOI said it approved the application for registration of Zashi Hog Farm Inc. for its new project in Pampanga.

The project was approved under the agriculture, fishery, and forestry sector of the Investment Priorities Plan, serving as the transitional Strategic Investment Priority Plan, which identifies projects qualified for incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act.

Located in San Ildefonso, Magalang, the new project is adjacent to Zashi Hog Farm’s existing pork production project.

The new project is under a hog breeding agreement involving the setup of a gestating building and farrowing facility for breeding, growing and raising piglets with a standard weight of nine kilograms per head.

Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said Zashi Hog Farm’s project would provide support to the local hog industry, which was hit by the African swine fever.

“With its own in-house breeding facility, the company has ensured the safeness of piglets and as they grow, they will ensure a steady supply to its partner’s grow-out farm which will provide a steady supply to the market,” he said.

Slated to start commercial operations this month, Zashi Hog Farm’s new project is expected to breed 106 metric tons annually or 11,856 heads.

BOI said the project would help mitigate the shortfall in hog supply.

Citing the forecast of the Department of Agriculture, the BOI said a deficit of around 120,000 metric tons of pork is expected for this year.

Zashi Hog Farm adheres to strict biosecurity measures and supports the DA’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) and the Bantay ASF aimed at helping the hog industry recover from losses due to the disease.

In particular, the INSPIRE program focuses on hog repopulation, while Bantay ASF is being implemented with the local government units to prevent, control and manage ASF.

The local hog industry is a P245-billion market, accounting for 44 percent of the livestock and poultry sector.

As of 2020, the Philippines ranked as the 14th largest pork producer in the world, and second biggest producer in Southeast Asia next to Vietnam.