The outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF) in central and southern Luzon will continue to push up prices of pork in Metro Manila as fear of the infection persists among hog raisers.
Bureau of Animal Industry Director Ronnie Domingo told senators on Friday that while the spread of ASF has slowed down, they estimated a 20-percent decline in the country's swine inventory.
"Dahil po sa scare na dinulot ng ASF, 'yong iba pong nag-aalaga ay nag-slow down, 'yong iba po ay nag-early harvest na po sila (Because of the ASF scare some hog raisers slowed down, some harvested early)," he said during the Senate finance subcommittee's deliberation of the Department of Agriculture's (DA) P86.3-billion proposed 2021 budget.
"Hardest hit po ang Central Luzon at saka po ang Southern Tagalog kaya po ang mga nagsu-supply po ng baboy sa Metro Manila, mas malayo na po 'yong binibilhan nila ( Hardest hit were Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog that's why suppliers of pork in Metro Manila had to purchase from farther areas). And this adds to the cost of the retail prices of pork in Metro Manila," he added.
In reply to a query of Senator Nancy Binay, Domingo said the increase in prices will continue as he confirmed that livestock farmers would have to wait at least eight months before they can raise pigs again to make sure their areas are free of the ASF virus.
"Depende po sa (It depends on the) good husbandry practices ng farmer. 'Pag hindi siya naglinis, nagdisinfect, maaring more than 8 months pa 'yon, ma'am (If the farmer does not sanitize, or disinfect, it could even take more than eight months, ma'am)," he responded.
"Ibig sabihin mahal ang hamon ngayon Pasko (Meaning ham could be more expensive this Christmas)?" Binay inquired.
DA Secretary William Dar said Metro Manila could get its pork supply from other areas of the country that are not infected with ASF. "Mas mahal lang po (But its more expensive)," he conceded.
Domingo added that the country continues to import pork from at least 10 countries without ASF.
"So may hamon pa rin, senator," Dar quipped.
Senator Cynthia Villar, on the other hand, prodded to the DA to expedite its payouts for hog raisers, especially backyard raisers, whose ASF-infected pigs had to be culled.
"Syempre 'yong mga backyard farmer na nae-ASF, hindi nila irereport at ipipilit nila na ibenta yong kanilang baboy na may ASF pag hindi niyo binayaran, hindi ba (Of course backyard farmers affected by ASF will not report and will insist on selling their infected pigs if you do not pay them, right)?" she said.
"Gumagawa na lang sila paraan na pinagbibili nila ang baboy nila kasi mahihirap lang sila at kailangan gumawa ng paraan sa buhay nila. Kaya kumakalat ang ASF (They had to find ways to earn from their hogs because they are poor and had to make a living. That is why the ASF continues to spread)."
"Wala naman silang pakialam kung sumabog 'yan basta kumita sila. Syempre ganon naman lang (They do not care if that virus spreads as long as they earn. That's the way it is)," she continued.
Domingo agreed and assured that they will speed up their processes to quickly compensate the affected hog raisers.
According to him, some 350,000 pigs were culled. He said no new provinces were reported having an incidence of the ASF infection in the recent months, but said there was a "gradual increase" of cases among adjacent municipalities and barangays (villages).