Hog raisers extend ‘pork holiday’ to Sunday, seek total import ban

MANILA — Hog raisers have extended their “pork holiday” until Sunday as they press the government to stop pork imports, warning that continued importation is driving down farmgate prices and threatening the livelihood of local producers.

About 1,000 hog raisers from across the country protested outside the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) main office in Quezon City on Friday, demanding a total ban on pork imports.

The protest comes as local producers grapple with farmgate prices below their production costs, while pork vendors and consumers face uncertainty over possible supply disruptions in the coming days.

“Ang farmgate price ngayon sa Cebu, nag-a-average na lang ng P120/kilo. Yung cost of production natin nasa P180-P190/kilo. Nalulugi tayo ng P5,000 hanggang P9,000 per head,” said Nonon Tabago, vice chairperson of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork).

For hog raiser Noel Rosales of Lipa City, Batangas, the industry has already demonstrated its ability to recover from African swine fever (ASF). He said government importation policies now threaten that recovery.

“Marangal ang aming hanapbuhay, huwag niyo naman kaming patayin. Pagkatapos ng ASF noon, nakapag-repopulate na tayo. Hindi napatay ng ASF ang ating industriya, itong DA na ito ang siyang pumapatay!” he said.

The groups said they would continue suspending hog slaughter and sales until the government provides concrete solutions to their concerns.

DA Undersecretary Asis Perez approached the protesters to relay a message from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, who was in Cambodia for an official trip.

Perez said the DA had already petitioned in August to increase the tariff on imported pork to 40% from 25%. 

The department is also studying a two-month suspension of imports of certain pork cuts starting in November.

He said, however, that some proposed measures require approval from other agencies, including the Tariff Commission.

“May mga hakbang na nangangailangan ng pag-apruba ng ibang ahensiya, kabilang ang Tariff Commission, pero hindi ito dahilan para tumigil kami sa paghahanap ng solusyon. Sinimulan na rin namin ang imbestigasyon ilalim ng General Safeguards na maaring magbigay ng kapangyarinhan sa DA na pahintuin ang hindi makatwirang pag-aangkat ng baboy,” Perez said.

But AGAP Party-list Representative and pro-pork chairman Nicanor Briones said the proposed measures would not be enough to address the industry’s immediate concerns.

Briones reiterated the group’s demand for a total ban on pork imports for at least four months, saying hog raisers could not afford to wait until November as projected industry losses are expected to exceed P7 billion.

“Minimum of four months ang hinihingi natin dahil (DA) na rin ang nagsabi na meron tayong sapat na karne na for five months,” Briones said.

The lawmaker also criticized the continued smuggling of agricultural products, saying no one had been held accountable despite the passage of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act in 2024.

“Hanggang ngayon hindi pa nai-implement, wala pang nahuhuli, walang nasasampolan,” he said.

Despite the extended pork holiday, vendors at a market in Quezon City were still selling fresh pork on Friday.

One vendor said they had yet to receive notice from their suppliers about possible disruptions, although deliveries could be reduced if the protest affects hog supply.

Rod Reyes said suppliers might still be able to provide pork but in smaller quantities than usual.

“Gagawa at gagawa ng paraan ‘yung supplier. Meron pa rin sigurong makukuha pero hindi na kagaya ng order mo. Palagay mo dati, umorder ka ng 2, 3 baboy. Ngayon baka isa na lang. Hahatiin niya yun sa mga tindera niya,” Reyes said.

Consumer Yolanda Mendoza, meanwhile, expressed concern that a shortage of locally produced fresh pork could lead markets to rely more heavily on frozen imported meat.

“‘Wag naman sana mangyari na puro frozen ang paninda nila. Minsan maamoy sila, iba ang lasa,” she said.

Tabago urged consumers to support local hog raisers, warning that continued losses could discourage producers from raising more pigs.

“Dapat suportahan din kami ng mga consumers, na kung di na mag-aalalga ang mga magbababoy, wala na tayong makikitang fresh pork sa mga merkado. Kung magkakaroon ng gulo sa buong mundo, paano pa tayo mag-iimport?” Tabago said.

The pork holiday began on Thursday and has been extended until Sunday.

Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that more than 600 million kilograms of imported pork had entered the country so far this year.