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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider High cost of pork pushes solons to call for full implementation of new livestock law

High cost of pork pushes solons to call for full implementation of new livestock law

Published Dec 25, 2025 02:38 pm

At A Glance

  • Citing the absurd price levels of pork in Metro Manila, Camarines Sur congressmen Migz Villafuerte and Luigi Villafuerte are calling for the full implementation of the new livestock law that was recently signed by President Marcos.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)


Citing the absurd price levels of pork in Metro Manila, Camarines Sur congressmen Migz Villafuerte and Luigi Villafuerte are calling for the full implementation of the new livestock law that was recently signed by President Marcos.
According to the solon-siblings, pork prices have soared to high as P480 a kilo in Metro Manila markets since November, just as the holiday season was about to go into full swing.
Rep. Migz noted that runaway prices could be prevented in the long run with the immediate and full implementation of Republic Act (RA) No.12308, which President Marcos signed last Sept. 25.
The new law channels at least ₱200 billion investments into the livestock, dairy, and poultry industries over the next 10 years.
An author of RA No.12308, or the ”Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act (AIDCA),” Rep. Migz said: “This new law aims to sharpen  the competitiveness of our livestock and poultry sectors by creating the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (AnCEF), which will receive an annual budget of ₱20 billion, sourced from tariff collections from imports of livestock, chicken and dairy products.”
AnCEF shall fund programs like herd repopulation or buildup, accreditation of breeding centers or stock farms, credit assistance for growers, mechanization and food safety services, animal feed development and compensation of those affected by animal diseases
The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently imposed per-kilo maximum suggested retail prices (MSRP) of P370 on liempo (pork belly), and P330 on pigue (pork ham or leg) and kasim (pork shoulder or Boston butt) to shield meat buyers from more price shocks.
Shrinking domestic production resulting from the local outbreak of ASF since 2019 is one main reason for the surge in pork prices in local markets.
Previously, the DA had agreed with hog producers to set a minimum farm-gate price of P210 per kilo, to protect the margins of hog raisers after the ASF outbreak decimated local stocks and pushed both backyard and commercial raisers into financial losses.
According to the DA-attached Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), as of Nov. 28, seven provinces in six regions have been hit with ASF outbreaks. 
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