PORK and poultry producers said the supply of their produce is ample for Luzon, especially Metro Manila, with large inventories in cold storage supplementing available livestock estimated as good for five months’ consumption.

In a statement, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, Inc. said hog producers will be able to meet demand.

ProPork President Edwin G. Chen said the association is working with government agencies to ensure pork products are delivered in steady volumes and readily available in the markets.

“We have more than enough supply. And we continue to work hard to make sure the Philippines has food resiliency and we as producers can put safe food on the tables of every Filipino,” Mr. Chen said.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Chairman Rosendo O. So estimated the pork and poultry products supply as good for at least five months’ consumption, based on estimates by the National Meat Inspection Service.

He added that frozen pork inventory in accredited cold storage facilities, was ample at 43,398 metric tons (MT), while poultry products were at 56,521 MT, higher month-on-month and year-on-year.

As of January, the hog herd was 12.80 million head, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“Our farms are filled with hogs and poultry. Even cold storage facilities across the country have many supplies,” Mr. So said.

The Department of Agriculture estimated that Metro Manila’s weekly demand for poultry and meat was 7,394 MT while the committed weekly supply was 11,074 MT, with Regions II, III, and IV-A being the top providers. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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