DA: PH swine stock reduced by roughly 20% due to ASF scare

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s swine inventory decreased by approximately 20 percent due to panic brought by the African Swine Fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) revealed Friday.

During a Senate hearing on DA’s proposed P86.3-billion budget for 2021, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) director Ronnie Domingo said some local livestock farmers have slowed down their businesses because of the ASF scare.

“Dahil sa scare na dinulot ng ASF, ‘yung iba pong nag-aalaga ay nagslow down, ‘yung iba ay nag-early harvest kaya sa nationwide po ay meron po tayong estimated na 20-percent reduction sa swine inventory po natin,” Domingo told senators.

(Because of the scare caused by ASF, livestock farmers have slowed down their operations, some have harvested early, so nationwide, there has been a 20-percent reduction in the swine inventory.)

Domingo noted that Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog are the hardest-hit regions because of the spread of ASF. He said this prompted other suppliers to source pork from farther places which added to the cost of pork being sold in Metro Manila.

But despite the reduction in swine stock, the official said DA has also noted a “gradual spread” of ASF in affected areas in the previous months.

“At the moment, ang ating na-depopulate na baboy, ‘yung naapektuhan at na-expose, ang reported lamang ay around 350,000 na (At the moment, the number of pigs depopulated, those that were affected and exposed, those only reported was around 350,000),” he said.

No province was added to affected areas in September, added Domingo.

KGA

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