CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, February 10 – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has set a mandated price ceiling for pork and livestock products to be implemented in major public markets in the city.
Effective February 11, price cap for select commodities is as follows:
• Beef rump (lean meat) – P340.00
• Beef brisket (meat with bones) – P250.00
• Pork Prime cuts – P265.00 Other parts – P165.00 Entrails – P50.00
• Whole Chicken (fully dressed/kg) – P155.00
• Chicken Egg (medium size/pc) – P6.00
In a recent media interaction, Carlota S. Madriaga, regional technical director for operations of DA-10 explained, that the established price ceiling, especially on pork is a result of a series of consultation with stakeholders from the government and private sector alike.
This came about to protect consumers from soaring pork prices, at the same time stabilize its supply and prices amid the current African Swine Fever (ASF) threat and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Atong gi-tan-aw ang detailed costing from production at the farm level, so that we can establish the farmgate price, next at the post-production level, which includes slaughtering, processing, permits, etc., and further down to the market aron makita kung pila na dayon ang selling or retail price sa atong mga karneng baboy sa kamerkaduhan, including also the farmgate price sa live hogs,” the director reported.
(We went through the detailed costing from production at the farm level, so that we can establish the farmgate price, next at the post-production level, which includes slaughtering, processing, permits, etc., and further down to the market to come up with a reasonable selling or retail price for pork products in the market, including also the farmgate price of live hogs.)
Data referred by the director includes the price monitoring of DA-10’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division for the period of November 2020 to January 2021, including reports from hog raisers, meat vendors, local governments, Philippine Statistics Authority and DA attached agencies thru the National Meat Inspection Service and Bureau of Animal Industry – Veterinary Quarantine Services.
“Mag-agad ang presyo sa atong karneng baboy sa pagpapalit nila sa liveweight [hogs],” Madriaga said.
(The setting of pork prices is dependent on the procurement price of liveweight hogs.)
Also contributory to the increase in the price of liveweight hogs, the DA official expounded, “Naa nay nadugang ang atong producer nga risk factor tungod sa hulga sa ASF nga maoy nakadugang sa costing at the production level. Ang ilang biosecurity measures, nga wala kaayo na nila gi-impose sauna, grabe na ka strikto karon nga ultimo hog raisers dili gani basta magpasulod og bisag kinsa lang, ang ilang disinfectants, ang insurance premium nga ila pod ibutang sa ilang mga stocks aron naa sila’y makuha na coverage if ever maigo sa kalamidad o ASF.”
(Our producers have taken on an added risk at the production level trigged by ASF. They have tightened their biosecurity measures, the use of disinfectants, and securing insurance coverage for their stocks, should these be affected by any calamity or ASF.)
On how long the imposed price cap will be implemented, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado clarified, “Kini atong price ceiling is good for a period of 60 days. If ever nay pagbag-o sa atong presyo, then mag-convene usab ang Task Force Bantay Presyo para ma-amend nato ang atong price ceiling.”
(Our price ceiling will be enforced for a period of 60 days. If ever there are changes, the Task Force Bantay Presyo will once again convene to amend the price ceiling.)
“We are here to protect the interest of consumers, but we also cannot do away in protecting the business side. Kay kung mawala ning ga-supply, ang consumers mag-suffer man sab. Kinahanglan gyud nga dunay balancing act ug ang cooperation and understanding from the public,” Atty. Jose Edgardo Uy, head of the CdeO Price Coordinating Council concluded.
(Without hog and pork supply, consumers will also suffer. We need to have a balance and the cooperation and understanding from the public.) # # # (DA-RFO X, RAFIS)
