Pork belly retail price hits P420/kilo

MANILA, Philippines — The retail price of pork belly or liempo has reached as high as P420 per kilo amid the upward trend in its cost, according to data from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The retail price of liempo has increased by P20 per kilo in the last two weeks from its previous price of P400 per kilo in Metro Manila markets on Feb. 21, based on data from the DA.

As of yesterday, the retail price of pork shoulder ranged between P290 and P370 per kilo and for pork liempo, between P340 and P420 per kilo.

The retail price of pork liempo should only range between P340 and P360 per kilo as the farmgate price ranges between P170 and P220 per kilo, according to farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura executive director Jayson Cainglet.

“Even if there will be additional P150 (per kilo) expenses for traders, it should not reach P400 (per kilo),” Cainglet told The STAR.

Cainglet added that because of high retail prices of pork, the consumption has declined, adding that consumers shifted to eggs and chicken.

“Unlike before, the retail price of pork is high, that’s why there is a drop in consumption. There is an increase in chicken and egg (consumption), which is okay as long as it’s local production,” Cainglet said.

The retail price of medium-sized eggs ranged between P6 and P8.50 per kilo while whole chicken ranged between P150 and P220 per kilo.

“We still have African swine fever, that is why it is difficult for our hog raisers to bring down the production cost. Again, if there is enough support for them like feeds, the farmgate price will go down,” Cainglet added.

He said that there is also a big disparity between the farmgate price and the retail price of pork, as it should only be sold for not more than P300 per kilo and not reach up to P360 to P400 per kilo.

The DA has said that it is eyeing possible price manipulation in the surge in the retail prices of pork in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The price hike occurred even as farmgate prices of pork remained low at P180 per kilo.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa confirmed that the retail price of pork in the Visayas and Mindanao increased by P10 per kilo.