DA told to address dumping of frozen pork in wet markets

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Monday called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to address the dumping of frozen pork in wet markets, as this—along with the expected increase in imports—is slowly killing the industry.

According to SINAG, the DA is seemingly reluctant to arrest importers that are dumping frozen pork into wet markets, amid the implementation of a price cap per kilogram of P270 for kasim and pigue, and P300 for liempo. This has forced some retailers to stop selling, or instead sell frozen meat.

"Sabihin na lang ni Secretary Dar na huwag na kaming mag-alaga ng baboy at manok kesa sa dahan dahan niyang pagpatay sa industriya," the group said in an emailed statement.

SINAG noted that Dar's leadership has pushed for the reduction of pork and rice tariffs, and the opening of the minimum access volume (MAV) allocation for pork imports, as well as the flooding of frozen meat in wet markets.

"This is not only illegal; but poses food safety risks and public health concerns while the country is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic," it said.

For his part, Agriculture Secretary William Dar warned the public against buying frozen meat which are not stored properly, and called on the vendors to ensure that the necessary storage procedures are followed.

"They should always have these frozen pork in freezers or refrigerated facilities," he said in a mobile message.

Price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA) shows that as of Monday, February 15, prevailing prices of pork ham (kasim) in Metro Manila were recorded at P270 per kilogram, and P320 for liempo.

The agency earlier blamed the storms in the last quarter of 2020 and the ASF outbreak for the recent spike in prices of agricultural goods such as pork and chicken, among others.—AOL, GMA News