Government allows pork, poultry importation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) will allow the importation of up to 30,000 tons of pork products and up to five million tons of poultry this year in anticipation of a possible shortage, according to Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap.

In an interview following the opening yesterday of the Agrilink exhibit at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Yap said the DA will allow the importation of 20,000 to 30,000 tons of pork products and four to five million tons of poultry products.

He said the imports, are expected to arrive in the country between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.

The importation of pork and poultry is in line with Malacanang’s preemptive move to prevent a possible food supply shortage following the devastation caused by a series of strong typhoons.

Poultry and hog growers, however,are claiming that there is no need to be alarmed as there have been no massive deaths of poultry and hog stocks.

In separate interviews, Gregorio San Diego of the United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA) and Rene Eleria of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. (NFHFI) claimed minimal losses of poultry and hog stocks.

San Diego said losses to the poultry sector have been minimal although he offered no strong objection of the announced poultry importation except to say that it should be kept under four million tons.

Eleria, likewise, belied any massive deaths of hog stocks, pointing out that most of the commercial growers are in Lipa, Batangas which was not affected by the typhoons and flooding.

He said that those who affected were probably backyard growers. But then, most of the backyard growers are out of business already following the numerous deaths caused by viruses, he added.