(Graph attached to this post shows the volume of Pork in metric tons imported from 2016 to 2025. 2nd image downloaded from Silvercrest Farm FB page.)
Everytime I write about the need to temper, even temporarily suspending, Pork Importation, there are comments accusing me of also doing the same thing when I was Secretary of Agriculture.
Nothing could be farther than the truth.
Not only did I disagree with massive importation of Agricultural goods during my time as DA Secretary, a bio-security threat on Hogs resulted in very stringent restrictions on Pork Importation.
In 2017, there were reported outbreaks of the African Swine Fever in Europe which prompted me to ban importation of Pork from affected countries.
It came to a point where I recommended a total ban of Pork Importation but the Meat Processors lobbied with the Economic Team which sets policies on importation and the proposal was rejected.
Shortly after I resigned and moved to the Mindanao Development Authority on Aug. 5, 2019, an ASF Outbreak was reported in hog farms near the Montalban, Rizal dumpsite.
The DA-BAI failed to contain it and it spread all over the country.
The irony of it all is that the ASF which led us to ban importation of Pork in several countries is now being used as a convenient excuse for the unimpeded Pork Importation.
This is a sick joke inflicted on Filipino hog farmers.
