RP to export pork to Singapore

The Philippines will be ready to start exporting pork products to Singapore by July this year, according to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said yesterday.

In an interview with The STAR, Yap said two Mindanao-based meat processors Matutom Packaging and Nenita’s have shown that they are capable of exporting pork products and they can start by June or July this year.

Singapore is beginning to source some of its pork requirements from the Philippines because of the country’s FMD (foot and mouth disease)- free status.

Malaysia, which is Singapore’s primary source of pork products, is reportedly experiencing some FMD contamination, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup said.

Only pork products from Mindanao so far are ready to be exported.

The Philippines is still awaiting further clearance from the Office Internationale de Epizooties (OIE) declaring all other parts of the country as free from FMD contamination, Salacup added.

Once the OIE clearance is given, Salacup said, the country would be able to increase its pork exports to Singapore.

Yap had previously said that Mindanao could be the country’s hub for pork and halal exports. According to Yap, Mindanao’s comparative advantages as a top animal feed producer and ideal site for breeder farms and processing facilities would make it an ideal export hub for pork and processed meat products.

Furthermore, Mindanao is a major producer of corn, which is a vital animal feed. It is FMD-free and has several breeder farms and meat processing facilities.

Yap noted that the hog industry grew 3.9 percent in 2006, grossing P126.5 billion representing 14.3 percent of total agricultural production.

The hog industry is the country’s second major industry behind palay which grew 18.3 percent percent and grossed P162.5 billion in the same year.

Local growers exported $650,000 worth of processed meat products from January to September 2006 to Micronesia, United Arab Emirates, Marshall Islands, United States, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Pacific Trust territories, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Italy.

To help keep commercially grown animals disease-free, Yap said, the National FMD Task Force is implementing "progressive zoning" with the help of local government units (LGUs), commercial farms and slaughterhouses.

"We continuously encourage LGUs to take a direct hand in implementing FMD-monitoring and preventive measures," Yap said.