DA plans to cut pork imports by 60,000 MT

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) aims to reduce the country’s pork imports by 60,000 metric tons (MT) this year by boosting local pig production through its P2.1 billion modified repopulation program.

The DA targets to substitute 10 percent of the country’s imported pork or approximately 60,000 MT with domestic output by year-end.

The department plans to achieve its goal by “enhancing” and “refocusing” its banner swine repopulation program known as Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 28 that modified the implementing guidelines of the program, which shall now be known as the Modified INSPIRE program.

“There is a need to enhance and refocus the implementing strategies of the repopulation program, to achieve the targets of the project and stabilize the price of pork in the retail market,” Tiu Laurel said in the document published recently.

The DA’s repopulation program will now focus on sow-weaner operations through the establishment of multiplier and production farms with artificial insemination (AI).

Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano said the DA has a budget of P2.1 billion for its swine repopulation efforts this year.

Under the revised guidelines, the DA is now offering three packages to eligible grant beneficiaries by the government.

The first package is for the establishment of a 60-sow level production farm worth P16.21 million while the second package is for a 30-sow level capacity valued at P10 million.

The last package is for the establishment of a 30-sow multiplier farm also worth P10 million.

All three packages include a tunnel-ventilated housing as well as the provision of vaccinated gilts as well as AI shots.

“The beneficiaries shall adopt modern climate-controlled building systems or conventional facilities but compliant with biosecurity level 1,” the MC read.

The DA explained that the piglets produced from the multipliers farms would be distributed to the members of the beneficiary cooperatives, associations and local government units.

Meanwhile, pigs produced at the production farms would be distributed to members or existing grower-finisher farm projects of DA for finishing or would be sold through a contract with a registered buyer or a big swine company.

“It is expected that this approach would lessen the possibility of African swine fever (ASF) infection, facilitate sustained production of piglets, provision of technical support to beneficiaries and efficient monitoring organized by the farmer cooperatives and associations under the supervision of the LGU veterinary office or the Bureau of Animal Industry,” according to the updated guidelines.

The modified INSPIRE program would prioritize eligible beneficiaries in ASF-free areas, including islands.

The DA noted that its swine repopulation efforts yielded positive results for domestic hog production since the program began in 2022.

The country’s hog output inched up by three percent to a three-year high of 1.79 million metric tons in 2023, based on Philippine Statistics Authority data.