Pork still ‘available, affordable and accessible,’ says DA exec

Amid reports of pork being sold at P420 per kilo, the Department of Agriculture said that more affordable options are available and appealed to traders not to take advantage of the recent typhoon.

DA Undersecretary D.V. Savellano visited several supermarkets on Tuesday to check the prices of chicken and pork. 

He found that kasim (pork shoulder) was being sold at P263 per kilo to as much as P380 per kilo, while liempo (pork belly) retailed at P345 per kilo, but the earlier reports were affirmed by its price reaching as high as P420 per kilo. Chicken was selling at P160 per kilo.

"Available, affordable and accessible," Savellano said.

North Star Meat Merchants, which supplies meat to hundreds of stores nationwide, said it is able to provide cheaper products thanks to its familiarity with the industry and the use of technology.

"We know when and how to order po our stocks," said North Star president Anthony Ng. "Hindi tayo sasabay sa mga [We don't go with] price fluctuations ng local at imported na meat. Being in a retail-centric setting, kailangan day in, day out available ang stocks [stocks must be available day in, day out]. Aided by technology po 'yan and experience natin [We are aided by technology and our experience]."

Savellano also appealed to traders not to take advantage of Typhoon Aghon's effect on agricultural products to raise prices.

"Pakiusap namin, huwag naman mag-take advantage sa situation, especially ngayon sinabi kanina may bagyo na nagyari sa Quezon. Baka may mag take advantage, huwag naman."

(We are asking them not to take advantage of the situation, especially now that we're hearing about a storm in Quezon. Some might want to take advantage. We hope they won't.) — BM, GMA Integrated News