Pork supply stable, says group, but prices up in some wet markets

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Wednesday said there is enough supply of pork for the holiday season even as prices went up in several wet markets in Metro Manila.

In a statement, SINAG chairperson Rosendo So said the current supply  may last beyond the first quarter of 2023 as government data also showed that imported produce in cold storage is “overflowing”.

“Unprecedented ang laman ng mga bodega. Hindi bumababa, palaki pa ng palaki ang mga laman ng cold storages, beyond their capacity,” So said.

Farmgate prices of live hogs are around P155 to P175 per kilo, according to SINAG. If there is a deficit in supply, So said its prices should have increased but it has decreased instead.

He called out those who claimed there is a shortage and declared them as “economic saboteurs."

“Nagpapakalat pa nang maling balita na may shortage ng baboy para ijustify ang taas ng presyo ng baboy sa palengke; at para ituloy pa ang pagbaba ng taripa ng baboy, bigas, mais at chicken mechanically deboned meats,” he said.

“Importers and traders continue to dominate the retail market and rake in profits; at the expense of the producers, consumers, and the foregone revenues ng government. Masaya lang ang pasko para sa importers at traders,” he added.

Prices of pork products in several wet markets in Metro Manila spiked to P300 a kilo, according to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday.

At the Commonwealth Market, pork meats are being sold at P270 per kilo while liempo parts are priced at P300.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) said pork supplies plunged this quarter but remained sufficient for the country’s requirement.

“95% sufficiency level po tayo. Mababa po ito kumpara sa quarter three kung saan may 121% sufficiency level tayo,” said BAI Supervising Science Research Specialist Lani Cerna.

The DA said the government is now focusing on boosting the live hog production in the country after six regions were hit by the African swine fever. They are also set to meet with hog and poultry raisers on Friday, December 2.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News