The Department of Agriculture (DA) will release this week a decision on whether or not to impose new suggested retail prices (SRPs) on pork products before the expected surge in demand for the Christmas season.
If approved, the new SRPs will also cover local pork products Imports are currently subject to SRPs.
DA Secretary William Dar said the agency’s monitoring showed a slight movement in the price of pork.
In 13 public markets in Metro Manila as of Friday, November 12, the prevailing price of kasim is P330 per kg and liempo, P360 per kg. from P280 per kg. and P340 per kg., respectively, in October 12.
Last April, the DA implemented SRPs for imported supply at P270 per kg for kasim and P350 per kg for liempo.
Dar assured supply of vegetables and fruits is sufficient.
Food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan urged consumers to patronize Philippine-made and grown products as the holiday season approaches to help workers affected by the pandemic.
Asis Perez, Tugon Kabuhayan convener, in an online briefing yesterday, said native and locally available fruits like sinturis (mandarin orange), pineapple, and lanzones can be included in fruit baskets during New Year’s Eve which the public can support to contribute to the growth of domestic producers and boost employment generation.
Carlo Cena, administrator of the Sentrong Pamilihan in Sariaya, Quezon, said that buying local fruits and vegetables will not only help a lot of farmers and the local value chain but will also assure consumers of freshness of produce.
Nikki Garcia, executive vice president and corporate management services director of Vitarich, assured chicken supply has been sufficient in the last four years with the private sector capable of scaling up production to meet any increase in demand, especially for the coming holiday season.
In the same briefing, Robert Lo, chief executive officer of Fresh Options, appealed for customers to buy local pork as 60 percent of production comes from backyard producers which undergo strict quality control.
