Imports squeeze hog farmgate prices to P180/kilo

MANILA, Philippines — Farmgate prices for local pork have fallen to as low as P180 kilogram, prompting farmers to back the government’s plans to implement a price ceiling on liempo or pork belly.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said farmgate prices of hogs have remained depressed for the past seven months, amid an “unprecedented surge in pork imports.”

SINAG added that the price ceiling would address the growing disconnect between farmgate and retail pork prices and ensure that consumers benefit from the low farmgate prices facing the hog industry.

The group said that hog prices have averaged about P180 to P190 per kilo, while liempo retails between P400 to P450 per kilo, noting that imposing a price cap on pork belly would plug the gap between farmgate and retail prices.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture said it was studying to impose a cap on liempo as retail prices have increased.

The prevailing price for a kilo of pork belly was at P420 in Metro Manila markets as of May 20, according to the DA’s price monitoring.

The farmers group stresses that government intervention is necessary to protect consumers and shield local producers from prevailing importation policies.

“Repeatedly increasing imports and reducing tariffs have not delivered lower consumer prices, while undermining domestic producers in the process,” SINAG said.

The group also called on the government to restore pork import tariffs to 40 percent under most favored nation (MFN) rates and 30 percent for minimum access volume (MAV) rates, stressing that this mandate has been long-overdue and must be acted upon immediately.

It added that the government must complete its plans to construct a network of first-border inspection and quarantine facilities across the country.

This would ensure safeguards against the entry and spread of animal diseases such as African swine fever (ASF) and prevent agricultural smuggling.