President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration has been carrying out measures to stabilize pork prices in the country, after the local pork industry was affected by the African swine fever (ASF).
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease infecting domestic and wild pigs, with a very high mortality rate.
“Lagi pong ninanais ng Pangulo na maibigay ang pinakamababang presyo sa mga pangunahing bilihin sa merkado,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Wednesday.
“Ayon naman po kay (Agriculture) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, ang pagtaas po sa ngayon ng presyo ng baboy … tumataas minsan ang presyo ng baboy dulot na rin po ng African swine fever,” Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
Citing Secretary Laurel, Castro said the DA responded to the ASF threat by implementing programs such as hog repopulation and the rollout of the ASF vaccine.
Castro said the DA allocated PhP1.6 billion for the purchase of livestock finishers and breeders while waiting for the ASF vaccine.
“Ilan lamang po ito sa kanilang magiging gawain para po maibsan po kung anuman po ang nararanasang pagmahal ng presyo ng baboy sa kasalukuyan,” Castro said.
Asked about government control on live hog pricing at the farm gate level, Castro said the government is not intervening.
“Katulad din po ng sinabi ng ating Pangulo, hindi tayo basta-basta po magdidikta kung ito naman po ay makakaapekto sa ibang mga stakeholders. Inaaral po ito para balanse po ang maging resulta – balanse sa consumer, balanse po rin sa mga hog raisers,” Castro said. PND
