Metro Manila markets will soon have cheaper fresh pork thanks to upcoming delivery of hogs from Mindanao, Visayas, and some parts of Luzon including Batangas.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar met with hog producers from the Soccsksargen region over the weekend to discuss collaborative actions in line with the “whole of nation” strategies to revive the hog industry and reduce pork prices.
“With these initiatives, we are helping the hog raisers and those involved in the supply chain to earn, while providing consumers access to affordable meat and meat products,” Dar said in a statement issued Sunday, February 7.
On February 6, Sec. Dar together with DA Undersecretary for Livestock William Medrano and Region 12 Executive Director Arlan Mangalen, led the send-off of two trucks containing 130 heads of live hogs each, weighing a total of 26.4 metric tons.
The hogs, courtesy of the Koronadal Valley Livestock Growers, are expected to arrive at Manila ports early next week.
“Other provinces from Visayas including Iloilo have also shipped off 600 heads last night to fill the supply gap currently being experienced in Luzon,” the agriculture chief said. The meat will be sold at the ceiling price imposed by virtue of Executive Order (EO) 124.
On Monday, February 8, representatives from DA are set to have a dialogue with the raisers of Luzon for the possible transport of hogs from San Jose, Batangas.
There are currently 41,953 heads of hogs available from the San Jose piggeries.