THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and local producers agreed to set a minimum farmgate price for live hogs at P210 per kilo as the liveweight price plunged to the break-even point.
This, after local producers warned that farmgate prices had plummeted between P150 and P180 per kilo, which they said was barely enough to cover production costs for backyard and commercial raisers.
Industry groups included in the discussion were Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NatFed), and the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork).
‘Farmgate prices have fallen sharply, yet consumers haven’t felt any relief,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. ‘During my market visits, I’ve seen liempo still selling for around P400 a kilo.’
The government and industry groups would also recommend reinstating the tariffs levied on pork to 40 percent from the current 25 percent, citing cheaper foreign shipments as among the rationales behind the swine industry’s predicament.
‘Lower import duties have encouraged over-importation,’ Tiu Laurel said. ‘This has flooded the market, squeezed local producers, and endangered both our food security and farmers’ livelihoods.’
He added that the DA would also issue an order to reclassify pork jowls, currently treated as offal, so that they can be levied a higher tariff. Jowls, a cut popular in Korean barbecue, have gained increasing demand from meat processors.
Furthermore, the agency was mulling over restoring a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork.
The level would be determined ‘carefully’ to balance profitability across the supply chain and consumer protection, the DA added.
With this, Tiu Laurel ordered the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to intensify monitoring to ensure transparency and fair trade.
He said supermarkets should clearly label frozen meat products and avoid misrepresenting them as fresh, while retailers selling frozen items must maintain proper chillers and freezers.
‘These measures are intended to stabilize prices, protect local producers, and safeguard consumers amid persistent volatility in the pork market.’
The prevailing retail price of pork ham in Metro Manila markets stood at P360 per kilo, while pork belly is being sold at P400 per kilo, based on the latest government price monitoring report.