Imee suggests sourcing pork products from non-ASF infected areas

Instead of importing, Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday proposed that the country's pork supplies be sourced from areas with no cases of African swine fever (ASF).

Marcos made the remark amid the shortage of pork supply in the market due to ASF, which causes prices to go up.

In a "Dobol B sa News TV" interview, Marcos thumbed down the government's move to resort to importation to possibly replenish the supply of pork products.

"Parang automatic na lang sa atin, kapag kinulang import," she said.

"Bakit hindi simutin muna, bilhin muna yung baboy sa non-infected areas? Sa Visayas, Mindanao, GenSan, Cotabato. E, may baboy naman diyan at walang sakit. Yun na muna, tulungan na muna yung mga farmers diyan, yung hog raisers," she added.

According to Marcos, importation of pork products may entail higher costs on shipping.

At the same time, there is also a cost on ensuring the safety of the personnel involved in transferring the goods to the market, as well as on the equipment and materials used for importation.

"Bago ka magdeklara ng shortage at magsabi na kailangan mag-angkat, hindi ba importante alamin magkano, gaano kalaki yung shortage?" she said.

"Payag naman yung local hog raisers na mag-import. Pero huwag naman ibagsak nang sobra. Wala nang bibili talaga, talagang dapang-dapa na ang kanilang industriya," she added.

Apart from sourcing pork products from non-ASF infected areas, Marcos also said there should be a restocking of hogs. "Kailangan mag-restock, magparami ng biik."

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved plans to study the possibility of hiking the country’s pork imports to boost domestic supply and the creation of a task group that will run after profiteers, hoarders, and smugglers of agricultural products.

In the meantime, the Department of Agriculture said the task force will initially go after unscrupulous traders, viajeros, and wholesalers who have unreasonably jacked up the prices of hogs and pork, hovering at more than P400 per kilogram, and pricing rate has persisted even after the 2020 Christmas season and despite reduced demand.

Duterte earlier ordered the imposition of a price ceiling on pork and chicken for 60 days in Metro Manila. The price cap will be implemented starting February 8. —LBG, GMA News