Cajilig seeks temporary ban on entry of hogs, pork products into Iloilo
By Manny Regalado Alcalde
“Protect the local backyard hog raisers. Implement a temporary ban. Help us sustain the swine industry.”
These were the key points emphasized by Second District Board Member Rolito M. Cajilig as he sought support for a resolution requesting the Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Office of the Secretary, to evaluate and, subject to applicable laws and regulations, impose a temporary ban on the entry of live hogs and pork products into Iloilo Province from November 1 to December 31, 2026.
According to the Office of the Iloilo Provincial Veterinarian, monitoring records as of October 2026 show a total swine inventory of 136,770 heads. Of this number, 111,890 are backyard-raised hogs while 24,880 come from commercial farms, translating to a swine sufficiency level of 87.21 percent.
“These official reports mean that we have enough supply and do not need additional hogs coming from outside the province,” Cajilig said.
He cited shipment records from Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel B. Tabuada showing that 19,775 live hogs were brought into Iloilo from July 21 to September 30, 2026. These shipments originated from the provinces of Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Palawan, and Antique. An additional 2,625 live hogs were recorded entering the province in October 2026.
“This is detrimental to our local hog raisers,” the second district board member added.
In his resolution, Cajilig stressed that the substantial volume of live hogs entering Iloilo from outside the province warrants a thorough assessment of its impact on local supply, market demand, and the selling prices of locally raised hogs, particularly those produced by backyard raisers who have limited capital and bargaining power.
Provincial monitoring reports dated October 13, 2026 indicate that live hog prices across Iloilo ranged from P130 to P170 per kilogram, with an average live-weight price of P150 per kilogram. In contrast, prevailing market and roadside pork prices ranged from P220 to P340 per kilogram, averaging P280 per kilogram.
“With these reports, there is an immediate need to examine the disparity between farm-gate and retail prices and its implications for local hog raisers and consumers,” Cajilig said.
The board member also cited national data indicating a continued increase in pork imports. According to information gathered by his office, pork imports reached 151,788 metric tons during the first two months of 2026, representing a 22.7-percent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
He further noted that Executive Order No. 116 increased the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork from 54,210 metric tons to 204,210 metric tons, nearly quadrupling the volume of imported pork allowed to enter the country.
While the policy is intended to augment supply and stabilize prices, Cajilig said it has also exposed local hog raisers to increased competition from lower-priced imported pork products.
“The effects are already being felt in Iloilo,” he said.
Records cited in the resolution show that the province received 332,450.7 kilograms of frozen and processed pork in March 2026 alone. For the first quarter of the year, total shipments reached 1,202,396.65 kilograms.
The largest volume originated from Metro Manila, which accounted for 422,999.54 kilograms, while significant shipments also came from Cebu and other major distribution centers.
In addition, 16,278 live hogs from Negros Occidental were brought into the province during the same period.
“These figures show that a substantial volume of pork products from outside Iloilo is entering the local market and competing with our producers,” Cajilig said.
The board member said the urgency of his proposal was prompted by a petition from hog raisers in his district, particularly members of the Leon Hog Farmers Association (LEHFA).
“There was a petition from a group of hog raisers in my district, particularly LEHFA, and I had to act after verifying their concerns,” Cajilig said. “The farm-gate price of live hogs continues to decline while market prices remain high, and they attribute this to the entry of hogs coming from outside the province.”
Cajilig said he is urging the DA Secretary to direct Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia of the DA Regional Field Office VI to assess the situation and consider the temporary implementation of the proposed ban from November to December 2026.
He also expressed concern over the possibility of organized market manipulation behind the continued inflow of hogs from outside the province, saying the issue warrants further investigation.
Meanwhile, Cajilig disclosed that the Department of Agriculture’s national office had already communicated with the Office of the Iloilo Provincial Governor regarding the matter. However, as of this writing, no specific action has yet been implemented in response to the request.
