DA says pork supply enough for Christmas demand

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Sunday there is more than enough supply of pork to meet the market demand this holiday season.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said that since consumers prefer buying fresh meat, only sellers of frozen meat are hesitant to release their supplies in bulk.

He, however, assured that there is no pork shortage, especially with the upcoming Christmas season.

“‘Yung ina-assure natin sa ating mga kababayan, sobra-sobra ‘yung karne ng baboy ngayon. ‘Wag silang mabahala do’n,” he said.

(What we are assuring our countrymen is that there is more than enough supply of pork today. Don't worry about it.)

“Ayun nga lang, kung may frozen at mababa, depende sa inyo kung tangkilikin niyo ‘yun. Kung bagong katay, sa inyo naman ang preference. Pero, wala tayong kakulangan sa karneng baboy lalong lalo na nalalapit ang Pasko,” he added.

(It depends if you prefer frozen meat or fresh meat. But, we don't have a shortage of pork, especially now that Christmas is approaching.)

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Wednesday also said there is enough supply of pork for the holidays even as prices went up in several wet markets in Metro Manila.

Farmgate prices of live hogs are around P155 to P175 per kilo, according to them.

However, prices of pork products in several wet markets in Metro Manila spiked to P300 a kilo, according to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday.

At the Commonwealth Market, pork meats are being sold at P270 per kilo while liempo parts are priced at P300.

The DA had said the government is now focusing on boosting the live hog production in the country after six regions were hit by the African swine fever. —KG, GMA Integrated News