Pork prices soar after African swine fever hits parts of PH

MANILA, May 30 ------ Pork prices have soared in some markets in Metro Manila after African swine fever affected parts of the Philippines, a joint inspection of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry.

In Alabang Central Market, prices of pork belly have climbed to between P450-P490 per kilo, from P390/kilo. Vendors are complaining of reduced profits because of the price increase. “Sobrang tumal, tapos ano, 'di kaya ng tao yung presyo. Kaya, binibili nila pang gisa-gisa na lang," said pork seller Eva Alday.

The DA said the price hike is an effect of the African swine fever, which damaged thousands of backyard and commercial swine raising farms across the country. There are now only 8.5 million swine heads across the country, down from the 13 million before the disease hit. To address this, the DA said it is planning to make the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) directly buy pork from farms. “We're trying to cut out the middle man--'yan naman ang isang utos ni Pangulo na, hindi naman totally mawawala ang middle man. Pero ang utos ni Pangulo ay bawasan," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

The DA also said it is still waiting for the commercial sale of the anti-African swine fever vaccine to start the swine repopulation. In November, the DA said it was expecting the Food and Drug Administration to approve the commercial release of the vaccine before the end of 2024.

Laurel said the agency is considering importing pork meat products to address the increase in prices, but this would only be the last resort. Meanwhile, the prices of vegetables, fish and rice remained stable. “The prices are reasonable, sumusunod sa MSRP sa tatlong outlets na pinuntahan namin so malaking bagay yun," Laurel noted. For her part, DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said they are closely working with the DA to strictly monitor prices of basic commodities for consumers' safety. “We really implement kung ano mang utos nila sa amin, if they tell us to monitor and enforce the prices ng bigas, ng baboy ng other gulay. Yun, ang mga ginagawa namin," she said.

For now, there is no issue on the price increase on basic necessities and prime commodities, according to the DTI.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com