• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial governments of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental are taking steps to stabilize pork prices and protect both consumers and hog raisers as African swine fever (ASF) continues to disrupt the local swine industry.
In Negros Oriental, the Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) has passed a resolution recommending suggested retail and buying price ranges for pork, live hogs, and piglets across the province.
The move seeks to curb volatile market prices, discourage profiteering and price manipulation, and protect consumers while ensuring that hog raisers, traders, meat vendors and lechon operators can recover legitimate production, transportation, and operating costs amid the effects of ASF.
Governor Manuel Sagarbarría, who chairs the PPCC, said the present condition of the local swine industry calls for a reasonable pricing policy that balances the interests of consumers and producers.
The PPCC said the ASF has disrupted the supply chain of swine, pork and related products, resulting in unstable market prices to the detriment of both consumers and producers.
Following consultations, market monitoring and price assessments, the council recommended temporary price ranges, with pork (local and imported) at P240 to P290 per kilogram, piglets at P2,500 to P5,000 per head, and live hogs with a buying price based on live weight at P150 to P180 per kilogram.
The recommended prices are intended as temporary market guidance while Negros Oriental continues to respond to the economic impact of ASF.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is also studying measures to protect backyard hog raisers who have been struggling with low farmgate prices and the lingering effects of ASF.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is considering the establishment of minimum buying and retail prices for live hogs and slaughtered pork to prevent further economic losses among local producers.
While the province is still studying the proposed price floor, Talisay City has already implemented minimum pork prices to support the local hog industry and help stabilize meat supplies following the resurgence of ASF in Negros Occidental.
Under an executive order, Mayor Rowena Lopez Lizares set the minimum farmgate buying price for live hogs at P170 per kilogram, the minimum price for pisada or carcass at P240 per kilogram, and the minimum retail selling price of pork in public markets at P270 per kilogram. | GPB
