November 28, 2024

 

Philippine top agriculture official sees no need for price cap in pork as holiday approaches

 

 

The Philippine's Agriculture Secretary, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., said there is no need to put a price cap on pork, particularly on lechon (roasted) pig, for the upcoming holiday season despite the effects of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

 

Tiu Laurel noted that although a "minimal" price increase is expected amid the peak demands during Christmas, the country has a "stable" pork supply.

 

"I don't think it's going to be a big increase (in prices). I think increment, minor increase (only)," he added.

 

National Federation of Hog Farmers chairperson Chester Tan likewise allayed concerns over the holiday staple's supply stability.

 

"Right now, we are assuring (the public) this coming season in December that we have enough supply of pork even for the lechoneros… (we have) enough supply," he said in a separate interview.

 

The Department of Agriculture (DA) chief, meanwhile, said that the arrival of pork imports has helped strengthen the country's stocks.

 

"I think, we have enough supply. Actually, I was looking at the import numbers the other day… (it shows that) there is 10% more importation of pork this year than last year," Tiu Laurel said.

 

As of September 30, more than 517.86 million kilogrammes of imported pork arrived in the Philippines since January, based on the DA's Trade System.

 

The DA has also been ramping up efforts to mitigate the impact of the ASF in the livestock sector through continuous government-controlled vaccination and more stringent biosecurity protocols, including setting up inspection stations within Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

 

To date, 465 barangays in the Cordillera region, Ilocos, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Soccsksargen are still under red zones, or areas with active cases of ASF, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.

 

- PNA