On 22 June 2015, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) paid a visit to a native pig farm in Tiaong, Philippines to explore possibilities for research and partnership.

Steve Staal, ILRI regional representative for East and Southeast Asia, and Kat Orbizo, assistant scientist/livestock analyst, met with the officials of the Philippine Native Animal Development Program (PNAD) of the Department of Agriculture and together went to the native pig farm owned by Edwin Mendoza.

Edwin Mendoza has benefitted from the training program offered by PNAD to smallholder farmers looking to start their own business or increase their earnings through improved methods.

ILRI is particularly interested in the market for native pigs in the Philippines and would like to develop this into a research project.