Retail price of pork soars to P430/kilo

MANILA, Philippines —  The retail price of pork reached as high as P430 per kilo due to the impact of  African swine fever (ASF) and increase in demand during the holidays, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the demand for pork is expected to go down starting this month.

“The high retail price of pork is still due to the continuous effect of the ASF,” De Mesa said.

Based on the monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of pork shoulder ranged between P300 and P400 per kilo. Pork belly is priced between P350 and P430 per kilo.

The Bureau of Animal Industry has reported that cases of ASF have decreased further after outbreaks were recorded in 365 barangays compared to the previous 369 cases.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA has procured at least 490,000 doses of ASF vaccine.

Tiu Laurel said additional ASF vaccines would be procured if there will be a clamor from the hog industry.