Hog farmers rap aggie exec

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Leaders of livestock farmers and hog raisers have raised anew their stance against carabao meat imports and criticized a Department of Agriculture official who has batted for it.

Albert Lim, president of the National Federation of Hog Farmers of the Philippines, said Undersecretary for Livestock Cesar Drilon, in a recent television interview, again supported meat importation from India and insisted that the move would be "safe."

"Drilon seems to be insensitive to the plight of hog raisers who have been against the importation of carabao meat from countries such as India which are plagued by the foot-and-mouth disease," Lim told members of the Philippine Science Journalists Association in Malolos, Bulacan.

Lim added: "As undersecretary for livestock, he has failed to consider the stand of hog producers against this. We are appealing to President Arroyo and Secretary (Luisito) Lorenzo to remove him immediately."

He said India has not been declared FMD-free by an international body monitoring animal diseases worldwide.

Lito Hizon, president of the Livestock Raisers Association of Pandi in Bulacan, said that apart from the risks of an FMD outbreak, carabao meat imports would dislocate thousands of workers of hog farms.

Meanwhile, hog farmers lauded Angelo Reyes, chief of the National Anti-Smuggling Task Force, for ordering a close watch on ports suspected to be dumping grounds of smuggled meat and agricultural products.