BIZ BUZZ: Hogs in the limelight

As local hog raisers rallied to protest an influx of pork imports, the Department of Agriculture (DA) echoed an emotional letter of support to local producers, who have been bleeding from what they deem as “unfair competition” from imports.

“Hindi makatarungang malugi ang ating mga producer dahil sa hindi patas na kompetisyon (It is unfair for our producers to suffer losses because of unfair competition),” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an open letter read by DA Undersecretary Asis Perez during the rally.

For the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), now is the right time to restore pork tariffs, stressing that the industry is running out of time.

“Every day of delay gives imported pork an unfair price advantage, further depresses local farm-gate prices, and pushes Filipino hog raisers and the entire hog industry ecosystem closer to collapse,” Sinag executive director Jayson Cainglet said.

“The clock is ticking. Our hog raisers are losing money. The industry cannot wait,” said Cainglet, noting that the ripple effect could also gnaw on feed suppliers, veterinary drugs and animal health industries.

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