According to The Manila Times.net, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala made the commitment during the 2011 Pig Summit at the Water Front Hotel in Cebu City, which was attended by more than 100 hog raisers from Central Visayas, and other industry stakeholders.

In his speech, Mr Alcala said the agency will consider a program to provide small hog raisers with subsidized vaccines, and other veterinary, technical and logistics support. The department also would encourage big commercial raisers to link with corn farmers to ensure enough feed supply.

Mr Alcala said the department would promote production of yellow corn in the region to counter the rising price of feeds.

The DA chief said farmers and other farm stakeholders should come up with their proposal for a national swine industry roadmap, adding that swine and poultry raisers should seize the country’s comparative advantage of being free from the dreaded avian flu and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

He asked summit participants to identify their representatives who will meet with DA Assistant Secretary Davinio Catbagan in identifying major industry problems, coming up with possible solutions and timelines.

Mr Alcala said Catbagan would coordinate with big commercial hog raisers and their respective associations so they could make proper representations with the Senate and Congress in drafting proposed legislation against technical smuggling of pork, chicken and other meat products.

“They can also seek the opinion of the Department of Justice on the matter,“ he said.

Mr Alcala told local swine producers that Administrative Order No. 22, which aims to regulate the influx of contaminated meat products – especially frozen meat, would remain.