DA: Meat, egg supplies during Christmas ‘sufficient’

Supplies of meat and egg during the Christmas season will be sufficient, the Department of Agriculture said Saturday.

In a media forum, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa cited the improved local meat production in the country, which is backed by continuing importations until the fourth quarter of this year.

The Bureau of Animal Industry has already processed the importation schedules since last month, allowing the regular entry of meat importation into the country, said De Mesa.

The official, however, did not rule out the possible impact of African Swine Fever in the country, noting that it has already affected the village of Rodriguez town in Rizal province since August 2019.

"Marami nang lugar na tinamaan ng ASF iyong napa-graduate na natin from infected zone o red zone into pink zone, iyong buffer zone natin hanggang yellow zone," he said.

De Mesa said the DA is currently implementing the "BABay ASF" program, an initiative to assist ASF-hit areas in restarting production.

The agency is also working on the development of an ASF vaccine, he added.

Meanwhile, those affected in Central Luzon by the Avian Influenza or bird flu are now recovering, said De Mesa.

"With regard to egg supply in the country, especially with the Christmas holiday, we don't see any problem or disruption," he stressed.

The department has noted the increased consumption of eggs amid the opening of classes in the country, with high demand from hotels, restaurants and industrial users also observed.

De Mesa noted that 40 percent of egg consumption goes to industrial users, while 60 percent is consumed by households.