Pork producers, DA partner for industry development

MANILA, Philippines — Pork producers are working with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to develop a more cohesive action plan to protect and further develop the sector.

This comes after pork producers agreed to support the DA’s initiatives and programs for the local pork industry.

In a recent courtesy call to agriculture officials, officers and members of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. discussed various concerns afflicting the pork industry.

Present during the meeting were DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, officer-in-charge (OIC) director Paul Limson of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and OIC director Dr. Clarita Sangcal of the National Meat Inspection Service.

Pork Producers chairman Nicanor Briones said the meeting with the agriculture officials is a good start to setting a more open communication between government and the local pork stakeholders.

Among the issues discussed during the meeting were the continuing problem with  African swine fever (ASF), the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry, the extension of lower tariff for pork imports, and lifting the import ban on porcine processed animal protein (PAP) from Italy.

Earlier this month, BAI published the guidelines on the controversial importation of PAP used in aquaculture feeds from countries affected by ASF.

PAP is a high value protein supplement derived from animal by-products of slaughterhouses and is used in the manufacture of feed products.

Pork producers president Rolando Tambago said the local industry is still reeling from the effects of ASF that has devastated many pork producers, and has led to many – particularly backyard raisers – to close their businesses.

“Many people rely on the industry for their livelihood so it is important to keep them going. Unfortunately, the losses have been very hard on a lot of us,” he said.