Pork producers group denies alleged manipulation of prices

An official of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. on Tuesday said traders do not manipulate the prices of their products amid the rise of pork prices in the market.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, the pork producers group’s vice president Nicanor Briones attributed the increase in pork prices to the impact of African swine fever to the income of hog raisers.

“Hindi po totoo 'yan dahil naghahanap siya (Agriculture Secretary William Dar) ng puwedeng pagsisihan kung bakit tumataas nang malaki ang presyo ng baboy,” Briones said.

“Ang totoo, malaki ang ating pagkukulang ng supply ng baboy dito sa Luzon dahil nga 'yung una kong binanggit na mahigit 5 milyong baboy ang nawala dahil sa ASF na hindi nila na-kontrol,” he added.

Dar earlier issued a stern warning against unscrupulous traders and wholesalers who “unreasonably” jack up prices of basic food items, particularly pork, that hefty fines await them.

Briones noted that many pork producers lost some profit after their hogs were killed by the ASF.

According to Briones, hogs are being sold earlier before reaching their ideal weight of around 100 kilograms. They are already being sold when they reach 60 kilograms at a high price.

The prices of pork in farms in Visayas and Mindanao are around P180 to P200, Briones said. They will be raised to P250 when they arrive in Metro Manila. These products will be sold around P310 to P320 at markets in the region. Then, the retailers will sell them at around P360 to P370.

Due to this, Briones said the price cap of around P270 to P300 imposed on pork products does not help the hog raisers.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered the imposition of a price cap on pork and chicken for 60 days in Metro Manila following the request of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“Natatakot kami dito sa pinaniwalaan ni Presidente si Secretary Dar,” he said.

“Natatakot kami na baka walang baboy na dumating sa Metro Manila dahil siyempre ang Visayas, Mindanao na nagdadala rito ng 25,000 to 30,000 heads a month ay wala ngayong darating dahil hindi na kayang ibenta o hindi na kaya ng traders ibiyahe,” he added.

Briones suggested that the DA give P10,000 assistance to hog raisers for every hog that will be hit by the ASF, to control the prices of pork. —KG, GMA News