Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) have announced a partnership to rejuvenate the country's hog industry, as confirmed during the 32nd National Hog Convention and Trade Exhibit. The collaboration aims to address the challenges posed by the African swine fever (ASF) crisis and to support the industry's long-term recovery.
According to Philippines News Agency, MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno emphasized the government's commitment to the hog sector, focusing on enhanced cooperation with producers. Magno highlighted the necessity of ongoing dialogue between government entities and industry stakeholders to tackle disease risks, production challenges, and market uncertainties. He reiterated the government's role in supporting local producers, stating, "We in government have one job -- dapat tulungan namin kayo (we should help you)," and stressed that the engagement should extend beyond the convention.
Magno also declared that MinDA will work alongside the private sector to promote innovation, strengthen collaboration, and enhance value chain linkages. This approach aims to create a more competitive livestock industry in Mindanao, contributing to national food security. During the convention's opening ceremony, DA Assistant Secretary Michael Garcia, representing Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., reinforced the DA's commitment to fortifying support programs for the swine sector.
Garcia stated that the DA is focusing on assisting local producers to recover and improve competitiveness through initiatives such as providing access to quality breeder stocks, veterinary support, financial aid, and modern technology. He mentioned the DA's goal to restore the country's swine population to its pre-ASF level of 13 million heads through a nationwide repopulation program. This program includes 32,000 gilts, with the target of adding six million hogs by 2028.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has prioritized food security within his administration's agricultural agenda, emphasizing the recovery and modernization of the hog industry to stabilize pork supply and reduce reliance on imports. The three-day 32nd National Hog Convention and Trade Exhibit, concluding on Saturday, has brought together industry leaders, hog raisers, government officials, and exhibitors to discuss and implement strategies for the sector's revitalization.
