Amid rising prices of pork, DTI reassures stable supply

Amid recent increases in prices of pork, the Department of Trade and Industry on Tuesday reassured the public the supply of the commodity remains stable.

 

DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya gave the reassurance after a meeting with hog raisers, but added they are trying to keep prices from going beyond P180 per kilo.

 

"Sa baboy tinitingnan natin kung kasama ang problema sa tag-init. Naroon ang mga magbababoy, ang assurance nila, supply is sufficient, hindi dapat tayo mangamba," she said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

But Maglaya also said the Department of Agriculture is looking into reports that pork prices went up to as high as P190 per kilo.

 

"Gusto natin hindi umakyat ang lahat sa P170 to P180," she said.

 

Earlier Tuesday, a report by dzBB's Manny Vargas said pork was priced between P170 and P175 per kilo in markets in Pasay City.

 

Maglaya said their monitoring showed average pork prices at about P180 per kilo.

 

She also said prices of chicken remained stable between P120 and P125 per kilo.

 

Processed meat

 

On the other hand, Maglaya said processed meat producers have voiced fears they may have to raise prices due to stricter importation procedures.

 

"Ang sabi ng ating hog raiser at grower, sapat ang supply natin," she said.

 

But she maintained the government will maintain strict standards in handling imported meat, to make sure they are not contaminated and bring in avian flu or foot-and-mouth disease.

 

"Mag-ingat din tayo na hindi tayo mapasukan ng may problemang bansa. Mahigpit ang ating test and requirements," she said. —KG, GMA News