Pig holiday extended as hog traders protest against rising pork imports

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Hog traders staged a protest at the Department of Agriculture (DA) to decry the large number of pork imports hurting the industry.

In a DZBB report from Allan Gatus on Friday, hog traders are hoping that officials will listen to their plea and impose higher tariffs on pork imports. They are also seeking the cancelation of pork import permits.

The protesters are also asking the government to find a solution to end the rampant smuggling of foreign meat products, which was killing the industry.

According to the report, the protest remained peaceful until it ended in the morning, with DA officials going out to speak to the protesters and provide reassurance that the hog traders were heard.

Hog traders held a three-day “pig holiday” to protest foreign pork imports, which began on Thursday.

In a separate report, Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines chairperson and AGAP Party-list Representative Nicanor Briones said that the pig holiday will now last four days instead of three.

This means that participating hog traders will suspend the sale of pork until Sunday, October 25. —Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News