Illegal trade aids Phillipine pork shortage

Carlito Fabaleña, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), confirmed complaints from consumers over the soaring prices of meat products because of a scarcity in the province. A kilo of pork ranges from P160 to a high of P190, depending on the availability of live hogs.

 

Fabaleña said pig traders from other provinces prefer to buy meat and livestock from Marinduque because the province is free from foot and mouth disease (FMD).

 

His findings were corroborated by a report from the Provincial Veterinary Office which showed that in 2007, more than 12,000 heads of fattener hogs and 36,604 heads of piglets were shipped out of the province.

 

Seasonal traders
Provincial veterinarian, Dr. Josue Victoria stated that “at present, we have 29 licensed livestock traders in the province, but some of them are seasonal as they come out only during the months of November or December or during fiestas when demand for pork is high,” Victoria said.

 

He lamented that even breeder hogs are being transported out of the province, further threatening pig production in Marinduque. Mayo said the high cost of inputs, particularly feeds, has prompted hog raisers to sell their pigs outside the province for bigger profits.

 

The DTI suggested that a price monitoring and regulatory council in every municipality be organized to determine the most probable price that can be imposed on every product, particularly meats and livestock, and to regulate the shipping out of pigs.

 

• DTI