MIXED BAG: Hog, poultry production up while fisheries shrink

Hog and poultry production in Western Visayas grew in the third quarter of 2025 even as output from carabao, cattle, goats and eggs declined, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office VI.

Hog production was the only livestock commodity that saw an increase in volume during the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Hog production increased by 14.5 percent, rising from 13,557 metric tons (MT) in 2024 to 15,521 MT in 2025.

Conversely, Carabao production decreased by 7.4 percent (from 1,916 MT to 1,774 MT), Cattle production dropped by 10.0 percent (from 3,167 MT to 2,851 MT), and Goat production declined by 14.5 percent(from 770 MT to 658 MT).

Regarding slaughtering activities, the number of livestock slaughtered in registered slaughterhouses across Western Visayas generally declined year-on-year, except for Goats.

Goat slaughtering almost doubled, increasing by 98.6 percent, rising from 144 heads in 2024 to 286 heads in 2025.

Meanwhile, Cattle slaughtering was 29.0 percent lower, totaling 8,409 heads compared to 11,843 heads in the third quarter of 2024.

Carabaos slaughtered decreased by 3.4 percent (a loss of 161 heads), totaling 4,619 heads, and Hog slaughtering dropped by 2.3 percent (from 100,222 to 97,874 heads).

As of 01 October 2025, the total inventory for Swine (Hog) stood at 271,869 heads, Cattle at 141,337 heads, Carabao at 125,702 heads, and Goat at 152,887 heads.

Iloilo province contributed the largest share to the regional inventories for Carabao (44.2 percent or 55,621 heads), Swine (29.1 percent or 78,985 heads), and Goat (45.6 percent or 69,773 heads).

Antique, however, led the Cattle inventory with a 36.0 percent share. Antique also accounted for 23.0 percent of Carabao, 32.1 percent of Swine, and 17.7 percent of Goat inventory.

In the poultry sector, production volumes increased while egg production saw decreases. Chicken production grew by 14.7 percent, reaching 16,379 MT (up from 14,247 MT in 2024), and Duck production saw a robust rise of 27.2 percent, totaling 536 MT (up from 421 MT).

Conversely, Chicken eggs production decreased slightly by 0.2 percent (12 MT lower), recording 7,624 MT, and Duck eggs production decreased by 12.7 percent, recording 524 MT (down from 600 MT).

The number of chickens dressed in poultry dressing plants in the region reached 11,637,986 birds in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 30.2 percent increase from the 8,941,177 birds recorded in the same period in 2024 (an increase of 2,696,809 birds).

The total Chicken inventory as of 01 October 2025 was 12,453,773 birds, with Iloilo accounting for the majority (54.6 percent) followed by Capiz (19.7 percent).

Iloilo also led the inventories for Broiler (47.3 percent of 3,405,177 birds), Layer (43.0 percent of 1,097,836 birds), and Native/Improved Chickens (59.8 percent of 7,824,155 birds). Antique led the Gamefowl Chicken population, contributing 35.6 percent of the total 126,605 birds.

FISHERIES YIELD, VALUE DECLINE

The overall total fisheries production in Western Visayas for the third quarter of 2025 was estimated at 72,017 MT, marking a sharp 27.44 percent decrease (or 27,230 MT less) compared to the 99,247 MT reported in the third quarter of 2024. This decline was primarily attributed to the negative performance in the Aquaculture subsector, which decreased by 33.90 percent (from 72,289 MT to 47,786 MT), and the Commercial fisheries subsector, which dropped by 36.56 percent(from 16,241 MT to 10,303 MT).

The Aquaculture subsector contributed the largest share (66.4 percent) to the region’s total fisheries production in Q3 2025.

Regional aquaculture fisheries volume reduced by 33.9 percent, with Antique seeing the largest proportional drop of 50.0 percent (from 38,524 MT to 19,265 MT) and holding a 40.3 percent share of total aquaculture production.

Capiz, the top contributor with a 53.9 percent share, shrunk by 16.5 percent (from 30,827 MT to 25,739 MT), while Iloilo contracted by 31.1 percent (from 1,715 MT to 1,181 MT) and Aklan declined by 33.3 percent (from 725 MT to 484 MT).

Guimaras was the sole exception, posting significant growth of 123.8 percent (from 499 MT to 1,117 MT).

In contrast to the larger subsectors, the Municipal fisheries subsector grew by 29.96 percent (from 10,718 MT to 13,928 MT). This growth was fueled by both marine and inland municipal components, with marine municipal fisheries volume growing by 29.8 percent (reaching 13,611 MT) and inland municipal fisheries volume growing by 36.4 percent(reaching 317 MT).

In marine municipal fisheries, Aklan posted the highest growth rate at 95.0 percent (from 1,504 MT to 2,933 MT), while Antique held the largest share at 36.7 percent. In inland municipal fisheries, Aklan demonstrated a dramatic increase of 323.8 percent (from 23 MT to 97 MT), though Capiz retained the largest share at 52.3 percent.

Commercial fisheries volume production was lower by 36.6 percent (a loss of 5,937 MT), with all producing provinces recording declines. Aklan recorded the steepest drop at 61.2 percent (from 4,027 MT to 1,563 MT), followed by Antique at 34.9 percent (from 4,838 MT to 3,149 MT) and Iloilo at 35.4 percent (from 3,103 MT to 2,005 MT).

Capiz contributed the largest share to the Q3 2025 volume at 34.8 percent, despite declining by 16.1 percent (from 4,273 MT to 3,586 MT). Guimaras is the only province in Western Visayas that does not have a commercial fisheries landing center.

The total value of fisheries production for Western Visayas decreased by 4.3 percent in Q3 2025, totaling PHP 6.910 billion, which is PHP 312.466 million lower than the PHP 7.223 billion recorded in the third quarter of 2024.

The Aquaculture subsector’s value contracted by 6.5 percent (from PHP 3.692 billion to PHP 3.450 billion and Commercial fisheries value declined by 32.9 percent (from PHP 2.025 billion to PHP 1.358 billion).

Conversely, Municipal fisheries value grew by 39.6 percent (from PHP 1.505 billion to PHP 2.101 billion, with Marine municipal value growing by 39.7 percent (from PHP 1.478 billion to PHP 2.065 billion) and Inland municipal value growing by 33.6 percent (from PHP 26.999 million  to PHP 36.083 million).