The Department of Agriculture (DA) will impose a two-month suspension on the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for selected cuts of imported pork beginning in mid-November, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

"Hopefully by mid-November may paran na kami para ipatigil ang issuance ng import permit for 60 days para sa kasim, liempo, at pigue," Tiu Laurel said during an interview on DZRH's Dos Por Dos.

He said the DA would prefer to act immediately and is studying measures to support the local hog industry.

The proposed suspension seeks to address complaints from hog raisers over the continued decline in farmgate hog prices and help jump-start the industry, he added.

“Para makatulong at ma-raisestart o majumpstart ‘yung ating hog industry,” he said.

The agriculture secretary also said the department hopes to implement the measure by November 15, although several processes must first be completed.

“Hopefully by November 15 magawa na namin, syempre mas gusto naming gawin kaagad, kung pwede lang,“ Tiu Laurel stressed.

"Ang DA nandiyan para gawan ng paraan kung paano maso-solve, kakampi kami ng magbabababoy at hindi kami kalaban kaya’t maghintay-hintay lang," he said.