The Samahang Industriya ng Magsasaka (SINAG) doubts that the Philippines has a shortage of pork products since local production continues.
"Sa mga cold storage, punong-puno pa tayo. Almost 75 million ang inventory ng cold storage, " said SINAG chairperson Rosendo So on Wednesday, June 28, during DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
"Yung mga importer ang nagbabawas na magpasok kasi sobra ang stocks na pumapasok and wala tayon shortage na nakikita," So stressed.
The Department of Agriculture sees the need to import pork products until the end of 2023 due to the effects of the African Swine Fever (ASF) on local production.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also expects that the local production of the Philippines will drop to 925,000 metric tons due to ASF.
However, So insisted that Luzon and Visayas have started to recover from the impact of ASF.
"Dito sa Luzon, kung dati, 70 percent ang nawala, ngayon siguro nasa 50 percent na ang pumasok muli (to hog raising)," So said.
