DAVAO CITY—The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) assured Tuesday of a stable supply of pork meat and by-products during the holiday season amid the campaign against African swine fever (ASF).
Dr. Karl Laurence Pineda, DA-11 focal person for the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, said they remain confident that there will be no shortage of pork meat in December.
In a press briefing here, Pineda noted that the region had a steady supply of pork last year amid the numerous cases of ASF.
“There is no shortage even when we have ASF cases. At this point, the big hog farms in Davao Region have reserved their supply for the holiday season,” he said.
Last year, DA-11 recorded a drop of around 20 percent in pork meat prices because of the oversupply of meat during the holiday season.
“I can still remember that in the third quarter of last year, we went to big farms to buy hogs for our sentineling program. They refuse to sell it because they have been preparing the supply for the holiday season,” Pineda said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Armie Capuyan, DA-11 plant pest, and animal disease monitoring and surveillance office head, said the region can still get pork meat supplies whether it comes from ASF-affected areas as long as it complies with the necessary documents.
Hog transporters should acquire regulatory documents such as laboratory ASF testing results, veterinary health certificates, proof of registration on the animal facility registration of the Bureau of the Animal Industry, and issuance of shipping permits from the Bureau of Quarantine.
“In the zoning on ASF, red to red areas or both ASF-affected areas can transport their meat products as long as they have the documentary requirements,” Capuyan said. (PNA)
DA-11 assures stable supply of pork for holiday season
By Che Palicte
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