Gov't urged to hold dialogue with retailers, hog raisers to address pork supply woes

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan urged the government to conduct a dialogue with retailers and hog raisers to find solutions to the shortage of pork supply in the market and eventually stabilize prizes.

In a statement, Pangilinan expressed concern that there were no more vendors of pork products in several markets in Metro Manila due to the high costs on the part of hog raisers, and not on the price ceiling ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte beginning Monday.

After price caps were imposed on kasim and pigue at P270 per kilo, and on liempo at P300 per kilo, several market vendors went on a “pork holiday”

“Kailangang magka-dialogue ang mga magbababoy at mga may pwesto sa palengke kasama ng DA (Department of Agriculture) at DTI (Department of Trade and Industry),” Pangilinan said.

“Dapat pakinggan din ang ating mga hog raisers at vendors. Ang suporta ng gobyerno ay hindi dapat see-saw. Dapat hindi bababa ang isa kung aangat ang kabila. Kung ang kailangan nila ay transport subsidy, bigyan ng transport subsidy. Ayaw nating umabot pa na mawalan na talaga ng suplay ng baboy sa merkado,” he added.

Pangilinan vowed to continue monitoring the situation in the markets amid the new development, saying that there may be a second hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food on the rising food prices.

Malacañang, meanwhile, appealed to vendors who went on a pork holiday to resume operations, saying government aid would be enough for them to survive.

“May mga grupo na nag-declare ng pork holiday. Meron rin pong nanawagan ng pagkain ng alternative protein sources," said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a briefing on Monday.

"Sinusuportahan po natin iyong panawagan for consuming alternative protein sources, pero nakikiusap po kami sa mga nagtitinda ng baboy na ipagpatuloy niyo po ang pagtitinda,” he added.

Some vendors at Trabajo Market in Sampaloc, Manila heeded the Palace's appeal and began selling fresh pork meat to customers at the price ceiling on Tuesday. —KG, GMA News