Zarate distorting facts on African swine fever situation –Dar

During a Tuesday's House Agriculture and Food Committee hearing, Agriculture Secretary William Dar accused Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate of distorting facts on the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in local hog farms.

In the proceedings, Zarate had questioned the “contrasting facts” between the “glowing statistics” presented by the Department of Agriculture chief and the data from the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA).

The Bayan Muna solon cited PSA’s evaluation during the first half of the year and quoted that “the lingering ASF combined with the deludes of frozen imports, eventually pulled down the output of the entire agriculture sector in the 2nd quarter by 1.5%.”

The PSA also reported that the total output of the crucial agricultural sector “shrunk” by P2.5%.

“Ito ‘yung the opposite side of the coin, nagko-constrict nang nagko-constrict actually ang output na ‘yun dahil ‘yung ating local producers sa hog and poultry can no longer produce that much as they used to, siyempre yung problema ng ASF at kakulangan ng suporta sa kanila. Tinamaan pa tayo ng krisis,” the congressman pointed out.

(This is the opposite side of the coin. The output is further constricted because our local producers of hog and poultry can no longer produce as much as they used to due to the ASF and the lack of support on their industry.)

Dar disagreed with Zarate, explaining that the DA's presentation just shows that they already established measures to address the ASF situation in the country.

“I did not claim that wala ng problema sa ASF. Mayroon pa tayo, lingering nga! Itong ASF, has contributed so much in reducing the supply inventory that has been the fact and we continue to show that the platform for managing the ASF is also working. Yun lang po sinasabi natin,” Dar told the lawmaker.

(I did not claim that we no longer have this problem on ASF. It is still lingering. This ASF outbreak has contributed so much in reducing the supply inventory that has been the fact and we continue to show that the platform for managing the ASF is also working. That’s what we are saying.)

“Sana ay wag nating baliktarin yung ating facts,” the Agriculture chief added.

(Let us not distort our facts here.)

At this point, Zarate cut Dar to object to the latter’s claim.

“Hindi ko binabaliktad, Mr. secretary and I take exception. The secretary is accusing me of binabaliktad ang facts. I’m also stating other relevant facts to this hearing at hindi ko sinabi na nagsabi kayo na wala ng problema ang ASF. I’m just saying that you are presenting glowing data na ako naman ay nagpe-present ng other side of the coin. So that we can get the picture,” the lawmaker told Dar.

(I am not twisting the facts, Mr. Secretary and I take exception. The secretary is accusing me of distorting the facts. I’m also stating other relevant facts in this hearing and I did not say that you have already addressed the problem of ASF. I’m just saying that you are presenting glowing data and I am just presenting the other side of the coin. So that we can get the picture.)

“I want your response to this and explain these contrasting facts. Do not accuse me of inventing data here o binabaliktad ang data,” he added.

Zarate moved to strike Dar’s response to his queries out of the congressional records, saying these are “unfair accusations.”

The motion was eventually approved by the committee.

House Agriculture and Food Committee chairman Wilfredo Mark Enverga then reminded Dar to “stick to the concerns” and justify the facts instead.

“Let’s not accuse anyone of manipulating or changing facts. Let’s stick to addressing the issues,” Enverga said.

In his opening statement, Dar highlighted DA’s recovery campaign amid the ASF outbreak in the country.

He said the department had “intensified” the hog repopulation program and the number of barangays affected by the ASF has “significantly declined” based on the data from the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Currently, Dar said there are only 29 barangays that reported active ASF cases.

“New cases of ASF have steadily waned across the country; in total, 468 municipalities nationwide. In earlier affected ASF municipalities across the country, [they have] not reported any new cases [in] the last 90 days,” Dar said.

“As of July 8, 2021, five municipalities and one city [have] been declared as ASF-free and we expect that many more will follow suit,” he added.

Furthermore, the DA intensified the surveillance and monitoring system in coordination with the local government units.

The ASF has already wiped out four million hogs amid the COVID-19 pandemic, causing pork supply woes and high pork meat prices, particularly in Metro Manila.

This prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to issue Executive Order 128 which lowers the tariff rates for imported pork meat.

Lawmakers, however, called for the revocation of the EO 128, expressing concern about its effect on the local hog industry.

Instead of withdrawing the EO, the Senate and the Department of Finance developed a compromise agreement to “strike a balance between accepting a formula in the reduction of inflation and the protection of the local swine industry.” — DVM, GMA News