MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up efforts to rebuild the country’s hog population while ensuring stable pork supply and prices, as it continues to balance industry recovery with food security amid the lingering threat of African Swine Fever (ASF).

The Philippines has yet to restore its pre-ASF hog population, estimated at around 13 million heads in 2019 before the disease began decimating swine stocks.

Speaking during Hog Festival 2026, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the swine industry remains a key pillar of Philippine agriculture and a major source of livelihood for rural communities. He said the government is working to speed up repopulation in ASF-free areas while protecting farmers’ incomes and ensuring consumers have continued access to affordable pork.

“Through stronger biosecurity measures, science-based repopulation programs, and close collaboration with industry stakeholders, we are rebuilding a more resilient and sustainable swine sector,” Tiu Laurel said.

“Our goal is to help Filipino hog raisers recover from the impact of African Swine Fever while ensuring that every Filipino family continues to have access to safe, sufficient, and reasonably priced pork. A stronger hog industry means a stronger rural economy and greater food security for the nation,” the DA chief added.

The annual Hog Festival, which features “Pork Labanan: The Ultimate Culinary Pinoy Pork Wars,” serves as a showcase for Filipino culinary talent and a platform to promote locally produced pork amid ongoing challenges such as disease outbreaks, rising production costs, and climate-related risks.

The DA has been coordinating with local governments, industry groups, and private sector partners to strengthen biosecurity protocols and accelerate hog repopulation in ASF-free areas, with the goal of restoring domestic production and reducing vulnerability to future outbreaks.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country’s total swine inventory at 8.75 million heads in 2025, down from 9.57 million in the previous year. Smallhold farms accounted for 6.09 million heads, while semi-commercial and commercial farms made up the rest.

Hog slaughter volume also declined to 20.74 million heads in 2025 from 21.61 million in 2024 and 25.36 million in 2020.

The DA said the recovery program is closely tied to the government’s broader food security agenda, noting that pork remains one of the country’s most consumed protein sources and plays a key role in managing food inflation and ensuring supply in local markets.

The department also continues to encourage consumers to support locally produced pork, saying stronger domestic demand helps create jobs and sustain rural livelihoods.

At the same time, the festival highlighted industry initiatives beyond production, including scholarship support for children of hog farmers pursuing studies in agriculture and culinary arts, funded by proceeds from the event.

Industry stakeholders said long-term recovery will depend on sustained disease control measures, improved farm productivity, and stronger resilience in the swine sector to meet growing food demand.