Meat, eggs supply won’t spoil Yule

There will be sufficient meat and eggs during the Christmas season in the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture said Saturday.

In a media forum, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said local meat production improved and is backed by importation until the fourth quarter of this year.

De Mesa said the Bureau of Animal Industry had processed the importation schedules since last month, allowing regular entry of meat importation to the country.

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.

The DA has been carrying out programs to prevent and control the spread of the ASF in other areas of the country.

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

He added that the agency is also working on developing an ASF vaccine.

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

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