Pork prices down, chicken up amid ASF cases

Public market prices for pork and chicken vary amid the spread of African Swine Fever in several provinces. 

According to a ''24 Oras Weekend'' report by Bernadette Reyes on Saturday, pork vendors have begun to lower their prices.

Monitoring from the Department of Agriculture shows the price of liempo at P305 per kilogram and kasim dropping by P10 per kilogram. 

Meanwhile, retailers of chicken and eggs have increased prices as consumers look for alternative sources of protein.

“No choice but chicken or beef, kasi nga yung health ng family mo at stake sa pork. So, iwas muna,” said a customer.

(No choice but chicken or beef, because the health of your family is at stake with pork. So, we’ll avoid pork for now.)

“Tumaas po talaga kumpara sa nakaraang buwan [ang presyo ng manok]. P220 po sa buo[ng manok]. P240 po ang choice cut namin, hanggang P250 po,” said chicken retailer Rosana Torla.

(Prices have increased compared to the previous month. It is P220 for whole [chicken]. Choice cuts are priced at P240 to P250.)

The ASF outbreak has had a devastating effect on the national hog population, which dropped from 12.7 million in 2019 to an estimated 9.9 million by the end of 2023.

According to the Bureau of Animal Industry, ASF has spread across all 17 regions of the Philippines and affected 74 provinces.

As of August 8, 64 municipalities in 22 provinces had reported active ASF cases. 

The DA is funding a program on swine repopulation.

“May nakalaan na dalawang bilyon para sa repopulation na ngayon ay gumugulong na,” said DA Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Constante Palabrica. 

(There is an allotted P2 billion for repopulation that is currently being implemented.)

The DA also reassured that infected pork products would not reach markets. 

“Yung galing sa North, hindi pupunta sa South. Yung South, hindi pupunta ng North… Mahigpit ang NMIS (National Meat Inspection Service). Kapag ka dumaan ka doon, mayroon kang tatak ng NMIS at sigurado ang ating mga consumer na ito’y malinis at walang sakit itong mga karneng ito,” said Palabrica.

(What comes from the North will not go to the South. What comes from the South will not go to the North… NMIS is strict. If you pass through there, you will get a stamp from the NMIS, and our consumers will be sure that your meat is clean and uninfected.) — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News