Swine Sufficiency in Iloilo Drops Drastically Due to African Swine Fever

ILOILO – The province of Iloilo is facing a significant decline in its swine sufficiency, which has dropped to 33.12 percent due to the impacts of African swine fever (ASF). This situation has led to the necessity of importing pork free from ASF to meet local consumer demand.

According to Philippines News Agency, the reduction in swine inventory has been drastic. From a pre-ASF level of 277,421, the current count stands at 75,478, indicating a loss of approximately 73 percent. The province, previously 289 percent sufficient in swine production, has experienced a severe supply decline, leading to increased pork prices. As of now, pork is priced at PHP359 per kilogram, while the live weight price is PHP214. The province has imported 15,064 heads and over 3.4 million kilograms of frozen and processed food from other provinces in the Philippines from January to November to address the shortfall. However, there is no record of imports from other countries yet. Among the 43 local government units in the province, 28 have reported cases of ASF. Efforts are underway to transition municipalities from the red or infected zone to the pink or buffer zone to commence the sentineling program, which would be a precursor to swine repopulation.