More than a month after the government capped pork prices in the metropolis, the Department of Agriculture recently reported that pork sold in wet markets and supermarkets in Metro Manila was still priced above the price caps set by Executive Order 124
A report released by the DA indicated that from March 15 to 19, pork ham or kasim in selected markets in Metro Manila was sold at P300 to P350 per kilogram, which was higher than the price cap of P270 per kg. Pork belly or liempo was sold at P320 to P380 per kg, also higher than the price cap of P300 per kilo.
Pork prices remain high, but the levels are now lower than the P400 per kilo registered in January. Measures undertaken by concerned agencies helped temper the price of pork, a favorite source of protein of most Filipinos. These initiatives include the coordination of the national government with hog raisers in other parts of the country to supply the National Capital Region with much-needed live hogs.
The stopgap measures, however, can only go so far because they do not address the root cause of the problem. African swine fever, which is fatal to hogs, continues to ravage hog farms, although outbreaks have been decreasing in recent weeks
From a high of 300 outbreaks, the figure has gone down to 62 cases in March, but this does not mean that the virus that causes ASF has been totally eliminated.
Unfortunately, surveillance programs are not enough to prevent virus flare-ups. Agencies in charge of fighting the scourge that is ASF need more funds so they can immediately indemnify hog raisers who will suffer losses due to ASF outbreaks. An indemnification scheme that will allow hog raisers to immediately recoup their losses and tide them over while they wait for the virus to be eliminated from their farms will go a long way in boosting efforts to eliminate ASF.
Agencies can only set up such an indemnification scheme if they can tap other sources of funds for this purpose. That is why senators and the Department of Agriculture sought a declaration of national emergency to prevent the further spread of ASF.
Part of this emergency declaration is the establishment of an indemnification fund for both the backyard and commercial hog raisers affected by ASF.
We call on Malacañang to issue this declaration of national emergency and mobilize badly needed resources that will help both line agencies and the private sector to prevent the spread of ASF. The pork production shortfall this year was pegged at 388,790 metric tons as the country lost at least 3.08 million pigs as of January 1, based on latest PSA data. Delaying initiatives aimed at helping hog raisers get back on their feet as soon as possible would only mean more pig losses and higher commodity prices.