Stakeholders of the local swine industry of Oriental Mindoro attend a public hearing on a proposed ordinance establishing a farmgate price review system of hogs and other livestock on August 12 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan conference hall. (Jerry Alcayde)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Governor Humerlito A. Dolor has requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass an ordinance establishing a provincial farmgate price review system for live hogs and requiring the accreditation of commercial livestock buyers to protect local hog raisers.
The proposed ordinance was presented during a hearing of the SP Committee on Agriculture, Food, Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources on Wednesday, August 12, with representatives of hog raisers, concerned government agencies and other stakeholders in the swine industry as attendees.
Provincial Administrator Early Turano, who represented Dolor at the hearing, said their proposal will not impose a fixed farmgate price but will monitor only the trading practices and protect individuals or groups involved in the industry.
According to PA Turano, the proposed ordinance has also taken into consideration the interests of the three main sectors, namely, the hog raisers, traders and consumers.
It also emphasized “the need to establish a transparent and evidence-based mechanism for the periodic determination of a recommended minimum farmgate price for live hogs based on prevailing market conditions and objective economic indicators”.
Turano said that under the ordinance, commercial livestock buyers will be regulated through an accreditation system to promote accountability and fair dealing.
Board Member Manny Buenaventura expressed reservation on fixing local farmgate price since the Department of Agriculture has reportedly set pork floor price at P210 per kilo to support the struggling swine industry.
The hearing was initiated by the committee’s chair Board Member Aleli Casubuan and attended by Vice Governor Antonio S. Perez, Jr., Board Members C. Voltaire Brucal, Jean Paulo Umali, Anthony Yap, Ryan Z. Arago, Buenaventura and Lagtum Pasag.
Last August 3, Gov. Dolor temporarily stopped the entry, sale and transportation of frozen meat until August 31, 2026 to pave the way to resolve the issue on hog raising industry.