Household Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate see a subsidy from the government as a solution for high prices of pork and poultry.
Zarate’s TeleRadyo said that the government’s response can not always be a price freeze when the price of goods rises.
After all, he said the country can be considered in a time of disaster, it is better to subsidize the products of farmers and other producers as has been done in previous years.
“Puwedeng gamitin dito ‘yung quick response fund ng pamahalaan na sa aming pagtataya ay mahigit P6 bilyon na sa kasalukuyan, so puwedeng i-tap ito habang hinahanapan ng pangmatagalang lunas itong problema,” said Zarate.
He also said that the government can buy the products at the right price and then sell them to consumers at lower prices.
Meanwhile, the meat processors group is calling for allowing local hog raisers to import pork without tariffs.
It is said that the hog raisers have lost a lot due to African swine fever (ASF).
If possible, he said, that LandBank will lend to pig farmers to import 50,000 metric tons of pork.
“Hanggang sa mababa na ang presyo ng baboy sa market. Wala tayong timeframe nito. Ang importante rito, pag naka-import ang hog raisers natin ay makabawi sila… Siguro naman merong pera ang LandBank na mapapautang sa kanila,” said Felix Tiukinhoy, president of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc.
Subsidy for hog raisers more helpful than price freeze: Zarate
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.)