Around 2,000 live hogs from Mindanao have arrived at the Vitas Port in Tondo, Manila on Wednesday to augment the pork supply shortage in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The hogs were transported from General Santos and South Cotabato and will be brought to slaughterhouses and markets.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has reached the 4,000 daily pork requirement of the NCR, with nearly 4,500 average daily hog delivery.
“Kabahagi po ito ng ating mga hakbang na ginagawa para maibsan ang kakulangan ng baboy sa Metro Manila nang sa ganoon bumaba ang presyo ng baboy o at least umabot doon sa price cap (This is part of the measures to ease the shortage of pork in Metro Manila and lower the price of pork or at least reach the price cap),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Meanwhile, the DA is ensuring the monitoring and control of the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) through enhanced biosecurity measures. Rapid PCR tests will also be placed in regional offices to expedite the detection of ASF in hogs in affected areas.
DA ASec. Arnel De Mesa said ASF cases have declined compared to the previous month.
– Report from Cleizl Pardilla
