THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it forged a partnership with the hog industry to increase the shipments of live hogs and pork products from the Visayas and Mindanao into Luzon in a bid to bring down pork prices in public markets.

In a virtual meeting with hog producers, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said weekly pork shipments will involve 27,000 to 30,000 animals from Davao, General Santos City, and Cagayan de Oro.

Mr. Dar said the effort to bring in pork from the southern islands will add to the supply in Luzon, which has dwindled due to African Swine Fever.

“This is a problem of logistics — including sourcing, distribution and marketing — which we can address without difficulty. All we ask is the full cooperation of key players in the entire hog industry value chain,” Mr. Dar said.

At the same meeting, San Miguel Corp. committed to increase shipments of frozen pork carcasses to four containers or 48 metric tons per week from Mindanao, while DA regional directors in the Visayas confirmed that live hogs from Cebu, Iloilo, and Leyte will also be sent to Luzon.

Mr. Dar sought the assistance of Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, who agreed to work with shipping companies to increase ship traffic to Luzon from Cagayan de Oro, General Santos City, Davao, and major ports in the Visayas.

“We will elevate our partnerships with hog producers and traders, ship owners and operators, and local government officials in the Visayas and Mindanao to supply Metro Manila and Luzon with hogs and frozen pork, and eventually bring down prices for the benefit of consumers,” Mr. Dar said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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