Groups suspect DA's cheap pork diverted to areas sans price ceiling

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) and the Manila Meat Dealers Association on Thursday suspected that the cheap pork supply sent out by the Department of Agriculture is being diverted to areas without the price ceiling.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras,” several members of the Manila Meat Dealers Association have yet to receive pork supply from the DA.

Ricardo Chan suspected that big meat dealers are the one benefiting from the DA’s pork supply.

Meanwhile, Rosendo So of SINAG said that the DA’s pork supply is being sent out to provinces in Luzon without the price ceiling.

“Hindi naman ‘yong lahat ng produce ng Visayas, Mindanao, dinadala lang sa Metro Manila. Kumukuha rin ang Bulacan, kumukuha ‘yong Pangasinan, kumukuha ‘yong Tarlac, kumukuha ‘yong other area,” So of Sinag said.

Meanwhile, the DA main office said it cannot determine the meat trader because the regional offices are the ones handling the distribution of the pork supply.

Agriculture assistant secretary Arnel de Mesa also said the meat traders will not be paid if the pork supply’s destination is not Metro Manila.

“Hindi mababayaran ‘yong mga nagdadala ng baboy dito kung hindi destination Metro Manila,” he said.

The DA said the Muntinlupa Market is among the destinations of the pork supply.

However, its market administrator said they have yet to receive pork supply from the department.

“So far, wala pang nakakarating na karneng baboy dito sa amin na galing sa ibang probinsya na sinasabi ng Department of Agriculture,” market administrator Randy Garcia said.

As part of the government’s measures to increase the supply of pork and reduce prices in Metro Manila, the Department of Agriculture sent out over 150,000 kilograms of pork supply to different cities in the capital region.

However, some vendors said they have yet to receive the pork supply.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News