MANILA— Taiwanese pork products attracted Filipino consumers and food industry professionals during a four-day exhibition in Makati City, where hotel chefs praised the meat’s freshness, natural sweetness and tender texture.

The 2026 Taiwan Pork Promotional and Sales Event, held from Oct. 22 to 25 at Glorietta Mall, featured fresh and processed pork products from Taiwanese suppliers seeking to expand their presence in the Philippine market.

Organized with support from Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Commerce Development Research Institute (CDRI), the event allowed visitors to sample Taiwanese-style sausages, pork meatballs, crispy fried pork ribs and minced pork dishes. Organizers said sales exceeded expectations.

The exhibition was held in partnership with the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. as part of the promotional activities for TaiwanLink Fair 2026.

On opening day, executive chefs from international five-star hotels in Manila, representatives of the meat importers’ association and foodservice procurement professionals attended a tasting session that showcased the pork using a simple preparation method.

Organizers blanched slices of Taiwanese pork in plain water, without elaborate seasonings, to highlight the meat’s natural flavor and texture.

Danny Huang, a chef at Westside Resort Manila who attended the tasting, said the pork maintained its quality even when prepared simply.

“Blanching is the ultimate test of pork’s intrinsic quality. Taiwanese pork is exceptionally fresh and naturally sweet, with a tender, juicy texture and absolutely no unpleasant porky odor, even when simply blanched in plain water. Its quality is truly impressive. We look forward to incorporating it into our hotel menu and developing future foodservice procurement partnerships.”

The MOA said the campaign aims to introduce Taiwanese pork to more Filipino consumers and connect suppliers with premium foodservice establishments and distributors in the Philippines.

CDRI Vice President Chang Huang-chen said Taiwanese pork products were notable for their quality and flavor, as well as their compliance with international standards for meat-cutting specifications and cold-chain management.

Taiwanese fresh pork was approved for export to the Philippines in 2023. Since then, the MOA has supported local market expansion efforts, including supplying premium foodservice establishments and upscale supermarkets.

The ministry also cited Taiwan’s animal health safeguards, saying the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recognizes Taiwan as free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF).

According to the MOA, Taiwan is the only country in Asia to have received recognition for freedom from all three diseases, which it attributed to its animal disease prevention, inspection and quarantine systems.

To further develop the industry, the Taiwanese government plans to upgrade pig farms, modernize slaughterhouses and improve cold-chain infrastructure. It will also assist slaughterhouses in adopting the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system to maintain pork hygiene and safety and strengthen export competitiveness.

The government will continue working with overseas representative offices and Taiwanese exporters to introduce its pork products to more international markets, including the Philippines and Singapore.

The initiative is intended to strengthen food industry ties between Taiwan and the Philippines and create additional business opportunities, the MOA said.