Pork shortage looms in the Philippines due to ASF

Mar 27, 2023

A possible shortage of local pork supply looms in June amid the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) warned yesterday.

During the Price and Volume Watch for Livestock and Poultry Meeting in Quezon City, National Livestock Program director Ruth Miclat-Sonaco said there will be a pork supply shortage of 46,104 metric tons in June compared to the demand of 145,849 MT.

Miclat-Sonaco said the shortage in June is projected to last at least 39 days.

But as early as next month, the country is projected to experience a possible deficiency in pork supply of at least 11 days or a shortfall of at least 56,180 MT of pork, she showed in her presentation.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Kristine Evangelista said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is still verifying the data provided by the BAI.

“We are still discussing how to fix it based on more inputs, data coming from the LGUs (local government units). We are still improving our data, vetting it with our stakeholders,” Evangelista said.

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