Pork stakeholders review cost structures to lower prices
(FILE PHOTO) A meat vendor chops a pork belly upon order on 18 August, 2024. The spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Philippines has led to panic among hog raisers, prompting some to sell infected pigs to traders, further worsening the situation. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has intercepted several trucks carrying pigs from ASF-hit areas, and the Department of Agriculture (DA) suspects that these traders are a major source of the virus's spread. The government is set to start vaccinating pigs soon to control the outbreak, though concerns remain about the limited availability and effectiveness of vaccines. If the situation deteriorates, the government may consider importing pigs to address potential shortages.
YUMMIE DINGDING
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Tuesday that key stakeholders in the pork industry have agreed to review their cost structures to help reduce meat prices.
The agreement followed a consultative meeting aimed at identifying the factors driving rising pork prices and evaluating the need for a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP).
Laurel noted that high pork prices are a short-term issue and should be addressed soon, especially with the anticipated commercial availability of the African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine. The Bureau of Animal Industry hopes that positive results from vaccine trials will prompt the Food and Drug Administration to approve it for commercial use.
“We all agreed that high pork prices are a short-term problem that should soon be resolved,” Laurel said.
Laurel added that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is working to balance the interests of both consumers and those involved in the pork industry.
“The clamor to bring the price of pork down is coming not just from consumers but from retailers as well; their sales are going down,” he said.
Farmers' group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) advised the DA to temporarily refrain from imposing an MSRP, as farm gate prices for pork have already started to decrease from P250 per kilo.
Laurel explained that among the cost structures under review are those of "viajeros" or traders, which are estimated to add P80 per kilo of pork.
Based on the DA’s latest monitoring, the average prices for pork ham and pork belly are P383 and P434 per kilo, respectively. Frozen kasim averages P325 per kilo, while frozen liempo averages P312 per kilo.