PH, US launch project to ensure safe pork products

The Philippines and the United States have launched a new project that aims to strengthen veterinary services to ensure safe local pork and pork products.

This came after the Department of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding in relation to the project funded by the US Department of Agriculture (US) Foreign Agricultural Service.

Under the project, Philippine agriculture officials will get a two-week training in the United States to equip them with knowledge to conduct workshops across the Philippines about how to control the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).

Roland Tambago, president of Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, welcomed the move, saying it is a “timely initiative that will enhance the industry’s competence on disease control.” Chester Tan, president of National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc., shared the same sentiment and said the knowledge gained from the project “can be cascaded to our Asian neighbors to better equip farmers in their fight against ASF.” The launch of this project was held as part of the USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to the Philippines, which ran from July 18 to 21.

Administrator Whitley led a delegation of 16 U.S. companies, 10 State Departments of Agriculture, and 11 trade associations to strengthen US-Philippine economic and agricultural partnerships and boost food security.