Eight container vans containing 580 pigs were sent by the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) and the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association (NORMINHOG) to Metro Manila.
It is expected to arrive in North Port, Tondo, Manila in February. 17 pm aboard the ship Oceanic Container Lines.
The shipment has an average weight of 107 kilos per hog.
The hogs were sent from commercial farms by NORMINHOG members such as Opol Chona’s farm, MG farm, D&C farm, and Shamus farm.
According to NORMINHOG President Leon Tan, the hog shipment is the answer to the call of Agriculture Sec. William Dar to assist in hog supply in the areas affected by African Swine Fever.
“This is the support for the Filipino people from the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association in Northern Mindanao. This will not be the last and hopefully we can support more,” said Tan.
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508 pigs from Northern Mindanao sent to Metro Manila
According to DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado, the DA has allocated P21 per kilo transport assistance to local hog raisers to stabilize the local retail price of pork in Metro Manila while implementing Executive Order 124.
“This is the first shipment of hogs for Metro Manila after the government set the price ceiling. DA will provide P21 per kilo transportation assistance and we are hoping that this will continue after the 60 day period, and Northern Mindanao can share in sending live hogs to Metro Manila” said Collado.
Northern Mindanao has also implemented a price ceiling on pork and livestock products in public markets to protect consumers from rising pork prices and stabilize supply despite threats to ASF.
The price cap on pork in Northmin is P265 per kilo for prime cuts and P155 for a fully dressed whole chicken. The price ceiling will last up to 60 days.
The DA confirmed that there are ASF cases in two barangays in Cagayan de Oro and also two barangays in Misamis Oriental, so there are strict monitoring and campaign against ASF and providing feed swill to domestic pigs.