The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is predicting a shortage of pork supply in the second quarter of 2023, due to the continued spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Visayas region.
While the final data is yet to be confirmed, the country currently has a sufficient frozen goods supply of pork and chicken, according to Department of Agriculture assistant secretary and spokesman Rex Estoperez.
The Philippines imported 69,588 tons of pork from January to February this year, a significant drop from the 195,454 tons imported in the same period last year.
Nonetheless, the inventory of frozen pork in cold storage as of March 20 stood at 70,709 tons, a considerable increase from 47,205 tons reported during the same period last year.
The DA is set to meet with stakeholders, BAI, and the National Livestock Program to finalize the forecast.
Estoperez emphasized that the government would have to consider the interests of both consumers and producers in making decisions on importation.
