In a bold move to revitalize the Philippine hog industry, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out a ₱1 billion swine distribution program to large-scale farms nationwide, with the goal of restoring the country’s pig population to 14 million within the next three years.
The initiative comes as the agriculture sector continues to recover from the impact of African Swine Fever (ASF), which significantly reduced the national inventory. The current population of around 8 million heads is expected to rise by 75% by 2028 under this program.
Boosting Local Pork Supply Through Strategic Partnerships
Under the plan, the DA will distribute 30,000 high-quality gilts (young female pigs) to commercial farms. These partner farms are expected to replenish backyard piggeries by supplying piglets reared from the donated stock, effectively creating a self-sustaining supply chain for small-scale producers.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. called on industry players to actively participate in the project, emphasizing its critical role in achieving pork supply stability and food security nationwide.
“We need the industry’s full cooperation to restore our swine population and bring down pork prices for Filipino consumers,” he said.
Enforcing Price Controls to Protect Consumers
The DA has also teamed up with private sector stakeholders to ensure compliance with the suggested retail prices (SRPs) for pork products in wet markets across Metro Manila. These price caps, which took effect on March 10, are as follows:
- ₱380/kg for liempo
- ₱350/kg for kasim and pigue
- ₱300/kg for pork sold wholesale to retailers
Supermarkets and hypermarkets are currently exempt from these SRPs.
However, recent DA inspections revealed that fewer than 10% of vendors are adhering to the pricing guidelines. A consultative meeting held on April 14 prompted renewed commitments from industry leaders to monitor members and prevent overpricing or excessive profit margins.
Retailers Raise Concerns on Pricing Challenges
Some market vendors argue that strict pricing guidelines are hard to meet due to the limited sale of premium pork cuts and rising biosecurity costs linked to ASF prevention efforts.
Despite the challenges, the DA remains committed to price enforcement. Data as of April 15, 2024, showed that:
- Frozen kasim averaged ₱251.37/kg
- Frozen liempo was at ₱313.94/kg
These prices suggest that with the right support, affordable pork products can still reach Filipino households.
Key Highlights:
- ₱1B in swine to be distributed to large farms in a “revolve-and-replenish” scheme
- National pig inventory target: 14 million heads by 2028
- SRPs set at ₱380/kg for liempo, ₱350/kg for kasim/pigue, and ₱300/kg wholesale
- Industry stakeholders and the DA collaborate on price compliance
- Retailers face ASF-related challenges in adhering to price controls