DA recommends P270-P300 per kilo pork price freeze

The Department of Agriculture on Saturday recommended that the government freeze pork prices given its sharp rise due to the African swine fever (ASF).

"'Yun na nga ang inirerekomenda ng DA kay Presidente [Rodrigo Duterte], tapos na po 'yung consultation, suporta na lang ng ating stakeholders ang tinitingan," DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said in a Super Radyo DZBB interview.

"Ang sina-suggest ni Secretary ay P270 to P300 ang price freeze natin sa baboy," he added, pointing out that the price range should be the ceiling price.

Reyes said the DA allocated an initial P400 million for the repopulation of swine in some areas following the ASF outbreak.

This week, a kilogram of pork belly at the Trabajo Market was sold at P420, while pigue and kasim were being sold at P400 per kilo.

At the Mabini Market in Caloocan, a kilogram of pork belly was being sold for P410, while pigue and kasim were being sold for P390 per kilo.

The prices were almost the same as beef prices.

The Department of Agriculture said it had observed the surge in pork prices in the capital region. — DVM, GMA News