Philippine pig farmers warn of USD363M losses, industry collapse

Farmers’ urgent demands

Propork and NFHFI, joined by other producer groups, are pressing for immediate government action:

• ✅ Restore tariffs to 30% (in‑quota) and 40% (out‑quota), rejecting the staggered plan through 2028.
• ✅ Suspend import permits and release of frozen stocks until domestic recovery.
• ✅ Impose quantitative restrictions on imports for up to 200 days.
• ✅ Enforce stricter inspections to curb misdeclaration, undervaluation, and smuggling.
• ✅ Update import reference values weekly to prevent unfair pricing.
• ✅ Strengthen food safety enforcement, citing reports of spoiled imported pork sold without proper cold‑chain storage.

Ripple effects across supply chains

The crisis threatens not only hog farms but also corn growers, feed mills, veterinarians, transporters, slaughterhouses, processors, and retailers.

Reduced hog production could weaken demand for feed and corn, ripple through supply chains, and undermine rural livelihoods. Industry leaders stress that this is not just an agricultural issue but a national food security and economic concern.

Probe highlights systemic issues

Senator Francis Pangilinan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, has filed resolutions seeking a congressional inquiry into the livestock and poultry sectors. He points to the paradox of low farmgate prices despite rising production costs, noting the daily losses suffered by pig and poultry producers.

Media reports emphasize that the Senate probe will examine not only import volumes but also structural weaknesses in domestic production, including feed costs, biosecurity gaps, and the impact of African swine fever. Mr Pangilinan argues that without intervention, both the swine and poultry industries risk collapse, undermining rural livelihoods and food security.

Industry leaders have welcomed the probe, seeing it as a chance to expose how tariff reductions and unchecked imports have destabilized the market. They stress that the inquiry must lead to policy corrections, not just hearings, if the industry is to survive.

Policy debate intensifies

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr has expressed support for higher tariffs but noted that the decision requires national government approval. Industry leaders have been particularly vocal, warning that without decisive intervention, local pig farming could face “extinction.” They have lobbied for immediate congressional hearings and presented their demands.

Both the NFHFI and Propork emphasize that tariff restoration and stricter import controls are essential to prevent collapse. Together, the two federations have become the central voices in the debate, pressing both executive and legislative branches to act swiftly.

They noted that the government’s USD 25.8M Swine Repopulation Program, aimed at purchasing 32,000 gilts to rebuild herds after African swine fever, risks being undermined if cheap imports continue flooding the market. Farmers warn that without immediate safeguards, the industry could collapse, leaving the Philippines more dependent on foreign supply.