DA: Pork consumption improves as ASF scare wanes

MANILA, Philippines — Pork consumption has improved as consumers' fear of African swine fever (ASF) has diminished, the Department of Agriculture reported.

DA Assistant Secretary for swine and poultry Constante Palabrica said ASF checkpoints in Metro Manila have also decreased from 14 to 10 amid the drop in the number of hogs being confiscated by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and local government units.

“It seems that the fear of our consumers to eat pork has diminished amid the fast release of pork (in the markets),” Palabrica said.

Pork consumption has declined since August amid the outbreaks of ASF in Batangas and other areas.

Palabrica noted that at least 500 ASF-infected pigs were confiscated at checkpoints.

“These were buried on the ground and the entry of ASF-infected hogs stopped, so from 14, I decided to decrease the checkpoints to 10. So the consumers need not worry,” Palabrica said.

Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of pork shoulder ranged between P270 and P370 per kilo and pork belly, between P320 and P395 per kilo.

Meanwhile, the retail price of chicken remains high, between P170 and P230 per kilo.

Pork demand is expected to increase with the holiday season.

The BAI said at least 13 regions, 31 provinces and 125 municipalities recorded ASF cases.

Most of the outbreaks were recorded in North Cotabato with 127 barangays, followed by Quezon with 97; Batangas, 72; La Union, 40; Camarines Sur, 38 barangays; Abra, 23; Cavite, 19, and Oriental Mindoro, 18 barangays.

The government started the vaccination of pigs against ASF on Aug. 30 in Lobo, Batangas, the ground zero of the outbreak, but since then, only 41 hogs have been covered by the inoculation.

At least 10,000 doses of ASF vaccine were bought under emergency procurement to contain the spread of the virus in Batangas.

Up to 150,000 doses of vaccine have arrived in the country.

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the procurement procedures should be completed before the jabs can be tapped for the controlled vaccination.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA intends to complete the procurement of 600,000 doses of ASF vaccine by December.

Tiu Laurel has approved the allocation of P350 million for the procurement of the vaccines.