Hog raisers hail anti-FMD stand of Lorenzo

The pro-farmer stand of Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. on the Senate Bill 1004 has drawn praises from the country’s hog raisers. The bill awaiting passage in the Senate proposes to allow imports of animals and meat products only from countries declared as foot-and-mouth (FMD)-free by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), the world’s primary animal health safety organization.

During the recent Senate hearing on the bill, the secretary delivered the meat of his position on the issue in this wise: The FMD eradication program remains as the cornerstone of government policy and the Department of Agriculture remains committed to implementing the national plan to eradicate the dreaded livestock disease, FMD.

To date, hog farmers spend no less than P1.2 billion yearly for vaccines alone against FMD. Although Visayas, Mindanao, Palawan and Masbate have been declared FMD-free, Luzon is still struggling with the debilitating livestock problem, hence the big cost of vaccines.

"We hail the secretary’s decision to side with the lot of the hog farmers who suffer from FMD," says Albert R.T. Lim Jr., president of the country’s largest organization of hog farmers — the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI). "In spite of other business groups’ opposition, describing the secretary’s support of the bill as ‘unfortunate and ill-advised.’ His firm sentiment is a leap of faith that will bring down production cost of hogs which will eventually be passed on to the consumers with lower-priced meat products."

Lorenzo pointed out that "by passing this law, we will deliver a strong signal to livestock producers that the National Government remains committed to the future of the livestock industry. FMD is proving to be a trade barrier as opportunities as prospects for exports has been lost due to the issue. Our local livestock industry will be in a better position to compete with livestock sectors of other countries if FMD is eradicated."

The secretary said SB 1004 complements the government’s FMD eradication program. Moreover, it will help build a risk-free environment for livestock raisers and protect the FMD-free zones of Visayas, Mindanao, Palawan and Masbate.

With Lorenzo’s support of the bill, hog raisers say they have reason to hope for its approval and ratification within the year. Last June, the House of Representatives passed a similar bill (House Bill 767) unanimously with 133 votes.

Lim said his organization will be behind the secretary’s decision on FMD and other reforms. "We will not let a good man and efficient executive down to make sure that he would succeed in his mission and vision in making the country’s agriculture sector strong and competitive in the global markets."