HOG industry stakeholders feared a surplus of hogs in Mindanao and drop in price caused by pork import bans implemented in some areas in Davao Region.

"Good tayo when we talk of Mindanao. We are supplying sa Visayas and Luzon. The problem ngayon is mag oover supply tayo kasi given ang mu low dinhi kay mukunhod ang presyo (We have enough supply in Mindanao. We are even supplying to Visayas and Luzon. The problem now is when there is oversupply, the price will go down)," Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao Director Ricardo Oñate Jr. said in a press conference Friday, February 7.

The Province of Davao Occidental earlier implemented a temporary 24/7 lockdown due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

Davao City has also banned the entry of pork and pork-based products coming from Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur.

Pork supply from ASF-free areas like General Santos (Gensan) and South Cotabato have to pass by Davao del Sur before reaching its clients in Davao City and other areas beyond the city.

"Nahadlok sila nga lockdown and Davao. Asa man padulong ang baboy from Gensan or South Cotabato, muagi man gyud diri. Ang gikagul-an karon sa hog raisers asa nila ibaligya (They [hog raisers] are worried on where can they deliver or sell their hogs from Gensan or South Cotabato because it would really go through Davao City, which has implemented a lockdown)," he said.

Hog Farmers Association of Davao Inc., president Eduardo So reinforced the concern, saying pork consumption will decline.

In the previous report, pork meat vendors in Bankerohan Public Market have felt the decline of their customers since Monday, February 3, compelling them to reduce the number of hogs they normally slaughter.

In a meeting with hog raisers earlier this week, Oñate said he urged the hog raisers to suggest an alternative mode of delivery to DA Secretary William Dar, as well as other destinations for their pork supply.

"Sulat mo'g letter of request kay Secretary Dar og alternative mode, asa padulong ang ilang produkto na pwede yung pig in a box na frozen meat, kumpleto lang dapat og documentation, NMIS-certified na ipadala sa Luzon (I told them to suggest through a letter to DA Secretary William Dar where can they possibly deliver their hogs or the ways of delivering it to the customers such as putting frozen meat in a box, complete with certification from the National Meat Inspection Service)," he said.

He also found the need to put up provincial slaughterhouses in every municipality to contain the spread of the ASF and for the advantage of the hog farmers and meat vendors in the future.