Imported pork in wet markets killing local industry —SINAG

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Wednesday again called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to address the flooding of frozen pork in wet markets, which the group said is killing the industry.

"Gusto talaga patayin ni Agri Sec. Dar (ASD) ang local hog industry with the audacious statement of giving free chillers and freezers in wet markets thereby legalizing the selling of smuggled and imported frozen pork in our palengkes," the group said in a statement.

"Sa ASD mamamatay ang industriya, hindi sa ASF (African swine fever)," its chairman Rosendo So said in the same statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced the allocation of P45 million to grant select wet markets in Metro Manila with chest freezers in a bid to boost local supply and arrest rising prices due to the African swine fever breakout.

Dar said the DA, in partnership with the local government units, will be buying 2,500 chest freezers costing P18,000 per unit having a capacity of 150 kilograms.

Sought for comment, Dar in a mobile message said that the suggested retail price (SRP) for pork will take effect on Friday, April 9 —P270 per kilogram for kasim, and P350 per kilogram for liempo.

Data from the price monitoring of the DA show that as of April 7, prevailing prices in Metro Manila for pork ham (kasim) are at P360 per kilogram, and pork belly (liempo) at P380.00 per kilogram.

Dar earlier warned the public against buying frozen meat that do not meet the government's storage standards.

"They should always have these frozen pork in freezers or refrigerated facilities," he said. —LDF, GMA News