The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has issued a warning of an impending shortage of pork supply in the Philippines for the second quarter of the year, following the spread of African Swine Fever in Visayas.
Rex Estoperez, spokesperson and Assistant Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said that although the BAI’s data is yet to be finalized, the country currently has enough supply of pork.
However, the BAI’s projection is subject to change depending on the finalization of data and meetings with stakeholders, including the National Livestock Program.
The Philippines imported 69,588 tons of pork from January to February this year, lower than the 195,454 tons imported in the same period last year.
Nevertheless, the inventory of frozen pork in cold storage has increased to 70,709 tons on March 20, 2023, significantly higher than the 47,205 tons reported during the same period last year.
Estoperez emphasized that the government must balance the interests of the consumers and the producers when making decisions on pork imports.
