CEBU CITY – Central Visayas is poised to maintain its status as one of the country’s top pork producers following the inauguration of a multi-billion piggery farm in Aloguinsan, Cebu.

The Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA-7) welcomed the inauguration of the 5,000-sow level modern farm of Virginia Farms Inc. in Barangay Saksak.

DA-7 Regional Director Angel Enriquez said the continued expansion of commercial farms strengthens the region’s livestock industry and supports food security objectives.

“We find it very timely and relevant that Virginia Farms is opening its third farm in Aloguinsan,” Enriquez said during the inauguration on Thursday, June 19.

Enriquez highlighted Virginia Farms’ role in helping Region 7 become one of the top hog producers in the country.

“From 2015 to 2023, our regional hog production grew from 163,531 metric tons to 248,000 metric tons,” said Enriquez.

Enriquez reported that hog production sharply declined to 218,000 in 2024 and 141,000 in 2025 due to the African Swine Fever in the region.

The reclassification of some provinces under the newly created Negros Island Region also contributed to decline, Enriquez said.

“From smaller backyard raisers up to the biggest commercial farm, which were supposedly less susceptible to ASF, were affected by the outbreak except Virgina Farms. They were not affected by ASF because of strong biosecurity,” Enriquez said.

Enriquez also commended Virginia Farms for assisting backyard farms through its backyard program.

“We also would like to commend Virginia Farms because they have their own program helping backyard raisers,” said Enriquez.

Citing economic impact, Aloguinsan Mayor Cesare Ignatius Moreno welcomed the opening of the sprawling farm. “The tax that Virginia pays to the barangay and to the municipality will be a very big help,” said Moreno.

The inauguration of the farm came when Cebu recorded an elevated 13.6 percent inflation rate in May. Provincial Administrator Ace Durano said the high inflation rate is due to a persistent shortfall in local food production.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed Cebu’s inflation going up from 12.9 percent in April to 13.6 percent in May, higher than Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City.

To further analyze inflation components, particularly those linked to food supply shortages and logistics costs, the provincial government will coordinate with the PSA central office, said Durano.

Durano pointed out that expanding local production is crucial to addressing structural dependence on external suppliers. “We don’t produce enough for our needs here whether vegetables, meats, chicken, pork, goods,” he said.

Rolando Tambago, president of Virginia Farms Inc. and chairman of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, agreed with Durano, saying food security cannot solely rely on external supply chains.

Tambago said local production is critical to ensure stability especially when geopolitical tensions occur similar to the ongoing war between US and Iran. “When there is war, no boats, we cannot eat pork anymore,” Tambago said.

He noted Cebu’s relatively high pork consumption with an estimated per capita intake at around 20 percent, compared to the national average of 15 percent.

With the high demand, there is a need to strengthen domestic output, as supply gaps become more visible in high-consumption areas like Cebu, Tambago said. "Especially Cebu, that Cebu eats more pork than any other province," he said.

Tambago said the rollout of Virginia Farms’ third piggery in Cebu will help ensure food availability not just in the province but also in neighboring areas.

Situated on a 45-hectare property, the facility is a high-biosecurity breeding farm with an investment value of about P2.8 billion covering ongoing expansion projects of the company this year.

The piggery is designed as a breeder production facility capable of supplying breeder stocks for commercial hog operations, complementing the company’s other expansion areas, including Asturias.

The piggery features multi-layer fencing systems, strict sanitation protocols, and controlled entry procedures aimed at preventing disease outbreaks.

Also present during the inauguration was company president Justin Frederick Chiongbian.