‘No reason for pork price surge in Visayas, Mindanao’

MANILA, Philippines — There is no reason for the spike in retail prices of pork in the Visayas and Mindanao, as the prevailing live weight cost is only P180 per kilo, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said over the weekend.

In a radio interview, SINAG chairman Rosendo So was reacting to complaints from consumers that the retail price of pork in Visayas and Mindanao has reached P400 per kilo.

So added that the retail price of pork shoulder in Visayas and Mindanao should be P280 per kilo.

According to So, the live weight price of pork in Luzon is higher at P195 per kilo amid the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).

He said that the retail price of pork shoulder in Luzon should be between P290 and P300 and pork belly or liempo at P340 per kilo.

Based on monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of pork shoulder reached as high as P370 and pork liempo, P410 per kilo.

“The DA should check this (spike of pork prices in Visayas and Mindanao). It should not be higher compared to Luzon,” he said.

At the same time, So assured the public of enough pork supply, adding that hog farmers were able to repopulate after being affected by ASF.

“After the illegal use of ASF vaccine stopped, the spread of ASF also stopped,” So said as he blamed the trial of ASF vaccine in the increase in outbreak of the virus.

He said that pork supply in Metro Manila comes from Bulacan, Pangasinan, Ilocos, Southern Luzon, Rizal and Batangas.

“The good news is many were able to repopulate here in Luzon so we are not too dependent on the supply from Visayas and Mindanao compared to 2020, we are recovering,” he said.