It is said that it will be difficult to replenish the pork supply in Luzon as long as there is no African swine fever (ASF) vaccine, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday.
“With the vaccine now na na-develop sa Vietnam, palagay ko maximum 2 years maayos na natin ang ating industriya. Kaya tayong mga konsumer imbes na mag-adobo, magsahog-sahog lang muna sa gulay,” said DA Undersecretary Ernesto Gonzalez.
The solution for the DA is to increase imported meat to fill the market shortage.
“Wala tayong magagawa, kulang tayo sa supply kaya dodoblehin pa ‘yung importasyon kasi wala talaga, kulang talaga,” said Gonzalez.
This has angered local pork and chicken producers. The industry has already collapsed due to imported pork and poultry and plans to increase it.
“Parang mahal na mahal nya ‘yung mga importers eh. ‘Yan ang dapat na lagyan ng price ceiling. Alam mo ba na kumikita ng 122 (pesos) per kilo ang mga meat importers ng baboy?” said Nicanor Briones of ProPork group.
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‘Pork crisis’ could last for 2 years – DA
“Kaya ‘yung chicken industry medyo dismayado, kasi last year sa miting nila pinakiusapan nila na magbawas ng importation dahil nga may overproduction sa lokal. Ang sabi sa kanila ng DA, kayo ang magbawas, dapat hindi sinabi ‘yan dahil ang dapat ihinto ‘yung mga importers,” said Rosendo So of SINAG.
Last week, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that the procurement of the anti-African Swine Flu (ASF) vaccine has been delayed because the government prioritized the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Kasama po ‘yan (anti-ASF vaccine) sa whole of nation approach, naantala lang po ang deployment ng ASF vaccine kasi mataas po ang demand at mas inuna po iyong COVID-19 [vaccines],” Roque said when Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando asked him for updates regarding the ASF vaccines.
However, Roque assured that the government has implemented measures to address the ASF problem in the country while there are no available ASF vaccines yet.
According to the Department of Agriculture records, about four million pigs amid were killed due to ASF during the COVID-19 pandemic.