Solon to DA: Take seriously warning that many hog raisers quitting soon
Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles on Friday, August 13 called on the Department of Agriculture to take seriously reports that a large number of hog raisers have decided to stop repopulating.

Nograles said the DA must study ways to support the ailing industry of hog raisers that has been seriously affected by both the African Swine Flu and the government decision to support importation of pork.
The House assistant majority leader noted that the farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) also cited the low demand for pork due to strict quarantine restrictions as another adverse factor to the local hog raising industry.
SINAG said 30 percent of hog farmers and raisers have stopped production.
“We cannot rely on pork imports forever and we know that the effects of the quarantine are temporary. We need to find a way to support our hog raisers,” Nograles said.
The Rizal solon also underscored that pork demand will again gain momentum as we are nearing the Christmas season.
“In just a few weeks, we will enter the ‘ber months’ and pork is a staple in a lot of Noche Buena tables,” he said.
Nograles explained: “A way to support the hog industry is to help them prepare for the forecasted demand for ham and other important pork products. This is consistent with our aim to bring the economy back to its feet.”
The administration lawmaker suggested that among the steps that can be taken are the gradual rise in pork tariffs, provision of support services and subsidies to hog raisers and farmers; the monitoring and regulation of farm-gate prices to balance producer and consumer interests.
“I understand that we needed to lower pork tariffs to allow cheap imported pork to enter our market to solve our supply problem. The DA, however, said that this is a temporary measure as we repopulate our local hog industry,” he said.
“Given that the DA have already announced that pork prices are starting to decline, it is time to bring back the tariffs to earlier levels and support our local industry so we can produce cheap local pork as well,” Nograles stated.
He added: “Besides, we cannot strengthen our economy without strengthening agriculture.”