Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday issued a bold challenge to the swine industry, urging it to produce an additional 2 million hogs annually to restore the country’s pig population to pre-African Swine Fever (ASF) levels by 2028.
ASF devastated the swine industry since the first outbreak of the disease in 2019, reducing pig population by around 6 million before the advent of the disease.
Speaking at the 31st National Hog Convention and Trade Exhibit in Pasay City, Secretary Tiu Laurel pointed to the potential commercial rollout of an ASF vaccine this year and the financial support from the proposed Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, which together could help accelerate the industry’s recovery.
“Before ASF, we had nearly 14 million hogs; now, we have 8 million. This creates a 6-million head deficit. With a growing population, demand is far higher than the previous 14 million,” the DA chief stated. “My challenge to the industry is clear: we need to produce an additional 2 million hogs each year—through 2026, 2027, and 2028—to return to pre-ASF levels…and that’s the minimum,” he emphasized.
Secretary Tiu Laurel also tasked DA Undersecretary for Livestock Dante Palabrica with creating a roadmap to guide the recovery of the swine industry, which is critical to the nation’s food security and economic growth.
The livestock and poultry sectors, comprising a quarter of the country’s agricultural output, provide livelihoods for over 2.8 million Filipino farmers. Pork and chicken account for more than half of the Filipino diet’s protein source.
Under the proposed animal industry competitiveness enhancement fund, around P4 billion will be allocated for the swine industry to support its recovery and growth.
If the swine industry could restore population to pre-ASF levels, Secretary Tiu Laurel said it would mean a significant reduction in pork import, which has taken the slack in local production. “Filipinos still prefer the meat of freshly slaughtered hogs,” he said.
The DA chief said he has spoken with two large commercial hog producers who have committed to each produce half a million more heads of hogs starting next year. “If they deliver, I already have around 1 million additional heads,” he added. ###
