DA probes increasing pork prices

Inspected pork is delivered to meat vendors at Commonwealth Market in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Agriculture launched an investigation on what the agency perceives as a deliberate effort among traders to withhold the release of pork products in the market thus resulting in higher prices.

According to the DA’s official website,  the inventory of frozen pork from both local and foreign suppliers stored in the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS)-accredited freezers as of the third week of October is bigger by 55 percent than what it had in the same period in 2019 at 38,216 metric tons (MT).

Inventory of frozen local and imported dressed chicken and chicken parts is up by 260% more at 83,266 MT against 2019’s supply of 22,953 MT.

“This slow drawdown or small demand for frozen meat indicates that most Filipinos prefer “fresh” or newly-slaughtered meat, or traders are holding off the supply to artificially jack up prices,” said DA Secretary William Dar.

“Also, we should convince our countrymen to consume more chicken in lieu of pork as a source of meat protein.”

Dar added that the DA won’t hesitate to file cartel charges if they find out that hog growers and traders are engaging in anti-competitive practices and are restricting the supply of pork products that are resulting to higher prices at retail markets.

As of Oct. 21, prices of kasim (ham) reached P320 per kilogram while liempo (pork belly) was at P360/kg in most Metro Manila markets.

Dar said that they’re also looking at whether the high prices are the results of inefficiencies in the supply chain.

CFC