The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Wednesday, Oct. 11, clarified there was enough pork supply to last until next year.

This comes after the Department of Agriculture (DA) bared that it eyes pork importation due to possible insufficient supply by the end of fourth quarter.

“Nagtataka tayo na nag-statement ang DA pero hindi naman nila pinapahinto yung pag-import. Tuloy-tuloy yung pasok naman [ng baboy] [...] maski up to next year ay wala tayong nakikitang pagkulang,” SINAG chairman Rosendo So said in an interview with DZRH.

“Hindi natin maintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin ng DA [kasi] punong-puno naman yung mga cold storage. Wala naman silang space na kayang mag-angkat ng additional pa,” he added.

The SINAG chairman explained that the port where pork imports were stored shared its space with chicken.

“Kasi itong mga nilalagyan ng baboy, yung port, nilalagyan din ng manok so hindi rin natin alam saan nila ilalagay kung magpapasok ng additional,” So said.

He, however, warned the government to continue monitoring pork for possible diseases.

“Dapat mamonitor talaga yung disease na pumapasok para at least mahinto yung spread dito sa bansa,” the SINAG chairman said.

DA earlier announced its plan to import pork because of the possible dire supply by the end of 2023 due to the demand for pork in the holiday season.

The agriculture department added the active cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) as another reason behind the need to import.