The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte the implementation of pork price freeze in the market, following the increase in its price due to African swine fever (ASF).
According to DA Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes, DA Secretary William Dar will appeal to President Duterte to implement the P270 to P300 price freeze.
“’ Yun na nga ang inirerekomenda ng DA kay Presidente, tapos na po ‘yung consultation, suporta na lang ng ating stakeholders ang tinitingnan,” according to DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes, in a radio interview. “Ang sina-suggest ni Secretary ay P270 to P300 ang price freeze natin sa baboy.”
(That is what the DA recommends to the President, the consultation is over, we are only looking at the support of our stakeholders. The Secretary suggested that our price freeze on pigs be P270 to P300.)
Reyes said the DA has also allocated an initial P400 million for the repopulation of pigs in areas where there has been an ASF outbreak.
It was learned that this week, the kilo of pork ranges from P400 to P420.
The pork price is almost identical to the price of beef.
According to the DA, they observed an increase in pork prices in Metro Manila.
DA recommends to Duterte P270-P300 pork price freeze
The demand for chicken has increased so its farmgate price has also increased. In the markets, it is estimated that the price of chicken is at P190 to P200 per kilo.
In this regard, the DA has allocated an initial P80 million for the development and mass production of test kits made in Filipino, and used for faster and cheaper detection of ASF cases.
He said such test kits are easy to use and can distinguish the ASF virus from hog cholera and other swine-related viruses.
Last week, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that the Philippines mulls increasing the volume of pork imports to ensure there is a stable supply in the country.
According to Dar, the government eyes increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork, which is currently 54,000 metric tons.