Supply of pork in Metro Manila enough – DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured that there is an adequate supply of pork in Metro Manila despite the vendors’ planned “pork holiday” this Monday.

According to DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes, pigs from Batangas, General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Iloilo City will arrive in Metro Manila.

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It aims to fill the demand and shortage of pork supply in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

The DA also announced that they have already shipped to Metro Manila the first batch of live pigs from areas in the country where there has been no case of African swine fever.

According to the DA, the first truck from Koronadal Valley Livestock Growers contained 130 live hogs weighing 13.6 metric tons.

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Another truckload with 130 live hogs was also transported this Sunday and is expected to arrive in Manila after three days.

“Other provinces from the Visayas including Iloilo have also shipped off 600 heads last night to fill the supply gap currently being experienced in Luzon,” DA Secretary William Dar said in a statement.

The South Cotabato Swine Producers’ Association has also expressed readiness to cooperate with the DA in delivering live hogs and carcasses in Luzon with an initial number of 10,000 pigs per week.

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Earlier, several groups of vendors filed a pork holiday today due to the 60-day price cap on such products.

Also read: Zarate: Importation of pork, poultry will kill agri sector

Supply of pork in Metro Manila enough – DA

According to President Duterte’s Executive Order 124, the price ceiling of kasim and pigi is P270 and P300 for liempo. Prices are effective this Monday, February 8th.

For some sellers, they cannot follow it if their investment is already at P310.

According to Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) chairman Rosendo So, suppliers will only sell elsewhere, with sales still high and not covered by the price cap. As a result, Metro Manila will lose its supply.

Some chicken vendors will also agree not to sell this Monday when the price cap is expected to rise.

The DA clarified that those who violate the price cap will not be immediately apprehended.