Pork producers group airs concern over Cebu’s hog export moratorium

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CEBU CITY, Philippines – A group of hog raisers and pork producers in the country have expressed their concern over the decision of the Cebu Provincial Government to impose a moratorium on the export of live hogs.

Nicanor Brioner, vice president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc., said in an interview with ABS-CBN last Saturday, January 30, that they are now worried that other local governments in the country will replicate Cebu province’s Executive Order (EO) No. 8, which may adversely affect the supply of pork in Luzon and Metro Manila areas.

“Pero kung ipinagbawal ng ganyan ni Governor (Gwendolyn) Garcia ay talagang kung gagayahin yan ng ibang local governments sa Visayas at Mindanao, ay talagang walang papasok na karne ng baboy dito sa atin sa Luzon lalo na sa Metro Manila,” Brioner said.

(If Governor Garcia prohibits the export of hogs, and if other local governments in the Visayas and Mindanao would follow suit, then pork supply will no longer be arriving in Luzon and Metro Manila.)

The lady governor is yet to comment on Brioner’s statement.

On January 29, Garcia signed EO No. 8 banning the export of live hogs for six months. The measure will take effect on Monday, February 1.

RELATED STORY: Cebu imposes 6 month ban on hog export

Garcia signed her EO after she met with local pork producers and hog farmers in the province who expressed fear of a possible shortage in pork products here as a result of the increasing demand for local produce.

Lawyer Salvador Deputado, director of the Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA-7), who was also interviewed by ABS-CBN, welcomed the Capitol’s move.

Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas are among the very few areas in the country that have remained free of any documented cases of the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Members of the Central Visayas Pork Producers Cooperative (CeViPPco) reported to Garcia that current demand for Cebu-produced pork products has increased to 4,226 metric tons per month which is almost double their total produce of 2,750 metric tons per month.

Garcia said the ban is expected to help stabilize the demand and supply of pork in Cebu markets. / dcb