ASF: Hog raisers back emergency declaration due to ASF backed

MANILA, Philippines — Hog raisers are hoping for the declaration of a nationwide state of emergency to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF).

National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. president Chester Warren Tan told The STAR they support the call of senators for the declaration, saying there should be enough funds for the hog industry’s recovery program.

Members of the Senate committee on agriculture and food made the call, citing the P50 billion in losses to the local hog industry.

Tan noted that in Luzon alone, 70 percent of the industry has been affected by ASF.

“What we want approved is, even if there’s not much damage, to include the Visayas and Mindanao in the state of emergency declaration,” he said.

In an interview on Teleradyo yesterday, Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines vice president for Luzon Nicanor Briones said the state of emergency declaration would allow the release of funds to indemnify affected hog raisers.

At least 2,402 barangays in 40 provinces in the country have been hit by ASF.

More than 400,000 hogs were culled, but stakeholders said actual losses are more than four million.

Meanwhile, Tan and Briones reiterated their call to the Department of Agriculture to adjust the price ceiling on pork products under Executive Order 124.

The EO, which took effect on Feb. 8, imposes a 60-day price ceiling. It limits the price of pork shoulder or kasim to P270 per kilo, pork belly or liempo to P300 and chicken to P160 per kilo in Metro Manila markets.

Tan said the measure is not working as pork continues to be sold at higher prices.