Imported pork flooding North Cotabato ‘killing’ local hog industry

Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, A surge in imported pork entering the city has led to a decline in local hog farming activities, with vendors reporting reduced sales and struggling to compete with cheaper foreign alternatives. According to Narcisa Carbon, president of the Kidapawan Mega Market Meat Vendors Association, at least 45,000 kilograms of foreign pork products reportedly arrive in the city each month over the past few months. These imports are directly supplied to restaurants, supermarkets, and malls, bypassing traditional local distribution channels. Carbon stated that imported pork is being sold at 250 pesos per kilogram, significantly lower than the 300 pesos per kilogram price tag for locally sourced meat available at the city's mega market. This pricing disparity has forced many local vendors to reduce their operations. She noted that previously, each vendor could butcher three pigs every other day, but now they share one hog between two vendors to maintain supply levels in the market. The impact of this situation has been felt across the local meat industry, with restaurant and mall owners favoring imported meat over locally produced options. Carbon attributed these challenges to Executive Order (EO) No. 116, issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which aims to increase meat imports in 2026 from 54,210 metric tons to 204,184 metric tons. The policy was introduced to address a perceived shortage of pork caused by the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF), which has impacted hog production in multiple regions of the Philippines. In response to the growing concerns, Councilor Bernardo Pinol proposed a resolution urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to exempt Kidapawan City from the importation of foreign meat. If passed, the resolution would require the DA regional office to consider intervening to support local producers. The proposal is currently under consideration by the city council, with plans to transmit a copy of the resolution to the relevant authorities for further action. Local vendors continue to face mounting pressure as the influx of imported meat persists. With limited access to government support and increasing competition from cheaper foreign alternatives, many are left scrambling to sustain their businesses. The situation highlights the broader economic implications of trade policies and the delicate balance between meeting consumer demand and protecting domestic industries. The city's meat vendors remain hopeful that the proposed measures will lead to tangible improvements in their business conditions. However, until such interventions take effect, the local hog industry faces continued uncertainty. As the debate over trade policies and their impact on local economies intensifies, the fate of Kidapawan’s meat sector hangs in the balance.