Press Release - Tolentino: PH racing against time to save swine industry from ASF

The Senate will begin its inquiry on Monday (September 9) on the devastating effects of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak on the Philippine swine industry, and the supply and prices of pork, which affect millions of Filipino consumers.

Led by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, the inquiry was prompted by Philippine Senate Resolution (PSR) 565, filed by Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino.

In his resolution, Tolentino called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a national state of calamity to address the ASF outbreak, which has reportedly spread to 460 towns in 54 out of 82 provinces across the country.

The senator said that the President is authorized to make such a declaration under Republic Act No.10121, or the 'Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act of 2010.'

"This declaration will allow the Department of Agriculture (DA) to utilize two fund sources, namely, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRM Fund) and the Quick Response Fund. This will greatly help in the government's efforts to address ASF and assist local government units (LGUs) in dealing with this crisis," explained Tolentino.

"We are desperately racing against time to save the local swine industry. We need to effectively arrest the further spread of the virus, roll out a national vaccination program, and provide technical and financial assistance urgently needed by our hog raisers," he further noted.

According to PSR 565, the Philippine swine sector is a P200-bilIion industry, and is considered the largest among the livestock subsectors and second contributor to Philippine agriculture, next to the rice sector.

Local hog raisers have reportedly lost as much as P100 billion due to ASF, the resolution added, citing data from AGAP Party List Representative Nicanor Briones.

PSR 565 also cited the warning issued by the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) that the retail price of pork, which has hit as high as P420 per kilo in Metro Manila markets in March, could further increase due to the looming shortage of pork supply.

Last August 30, the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry announced that it has