The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday warned those behind exorbitant pork prices, ranging as high as PHP450 per kilogram to PHP480/kg in local markets.
“Sisitahin na namin at mag-iikot kami nang marami, pupuntahan namin iyong mga lugar na merong ganito katataas (We will call them out and we will go around a lot, we will go to those areas that have these surging prices),” said DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa in an interview.
“Ito talaga ay hindi pwedeng manatili iyong ganitong presyo (It really cannot stay at this price),” he added.
He said initial consultation with hog industry stakeholders revealed that the price level is considered unreasonable, the same remarks made earlier by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
“Initial cost structure na pag-agreehan among all the stakeholders, talagang sobra (the stakeholders agreed that it’s excessive). That’s really too much. So, pwede na namin punahin iyon (we can flag that),” De Mesa added.
Farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) executive director Jayson Cainglet, likewise, emphasized that these high retail prices can no longer be “justifiable” considering the current cost structure.
“Right now we can say iyong (that the) PHP450 to PHP480 talagang out of the question na sobra-sobra iyan (that the price is really too much),” he said.
As of Feb. 15, pork prices remain elevated in Metro Manila at PHP380 to PHP480/kg. for pork liempo (belly); and PHP350 to PHP420/kg. for pork kasim (leg), according to the DA-Bantay Presyo (price watch).
The DA, meanwhile, conducted a meeting with hog industry stakeholders and agreed to closely look into the cost structure in the entire value chain.
Cainglet said the initial maximum assumption falls around PHP400/kg to PHP430/kg level of pork prices following the consultation.
“Pero kaya nasabi natin, babalik tayo. Tingin namin, malaki pa iyon. Kaya lahat magbabalik and discuss, consult sa members para talaga alamin magkano lang ba dapat iyong (But as we said, we will return. As we can see, that’s still high. That’s why we need to go back and discuss, consult members to really assess how much should be the actual) range,” he said.
Other discussed matters also include the need to boost the volume of local production and recovery from the effects of African swine fever (ASF) which can help lower farmgate prices of pork; the ruling out of retailers as the main reason behind spiking pork prices; and the target reconvening to assess the need for a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork in two weeks.
De Mesa said other considerations to be included are new layers possibly added within the entire value chain, which also adds up costs as well as the assessment of possible profiteering.
Earlier, the DA said it is “likely” to come up with a pork MSRP in March to help tame mounting pork prices.
It is also “exploring” the possibility of selling cheaper pork meat as an alternative option for consumers. (PNA)
