Pork prices rise in Iloilo amid supply shortage and inflation
ILOILO – Pork prices continue to rise in public markets across the province, driven by a supply shortage and inflationary pressures.
According to the latest inventory by the Provincial Veterinary Office ( PVO) on March 11, the average selling price of pork has reached P380 per kilogram.
However, the highest price was recorded in the towns of Santa Barbara and Pavia, reaching P420 per kilogram.
Dr. Darel Tabuada, head of the PVO, told Panay News that the province’s average price stands at P380, but some towns have seen prices climb higher, while others remain at P350.
This variance is attributed to the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF) and inflation, which have driven up costs for inputs like feeds and logistics.
The price is P400 per kilo in the towns of Alimodian, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Calinog, Dingle, Dumangas, Estancis, Guimbal, New Lucena, Pototan, San Enrique, and San Miguel. It’s between P350 and P380 in Ajuy (P370), Anilao (P380), Badiangan ( P380), Balasan (P380), Banate (P390), Batad ( P350), Bingawan ( P390), Cabatuan ( P370), Carles (P350), Concepcion (P380), Dueñas (P380), Igbaras (P320), Janiuay ( P350), Lambunao ( P380), Leganes ( P360), Lemery (P380), Leon (P380), Maasin (P380), Miag-ao (P360), Mina ( P380), Oton ( P360), Passi City (P380), San Dionisio (P360), San Joaquin (P370), Sara (P360), Tigbauan (P360), Tubungan (P360), and Zarraga (P380).
Data from the PVO reveal a significant reduction in swine population due to ASF, with Santa Barbara experiencing a decrease from 11,403 heads in September 2022 to 954 heads by March 2024, and Pavia from 2,987 to 843 heads over the same period.
For January 2024, at least 16,331 swine heads were imported by the province, which were sourced from Negros Occidental (485 heads), Palawan (4,122 heads), Oriental Mindoro ( 10,914 heads), Romblon (60 heads), and Bohol (750 heads).
To mitigate the demand, Iloilo has imported pork, both frozen and processed, amounting to 314,726.60 kilograms from January to February 2024, predominantly from the United States, an ASFfree country.
“Number one siempre kulang kita sa supply sang baboy diri sa province, makita man naton sa data naton nga damo ang nagasulod from other areas, may nagahalin na sa Palawan and also sa Bohol, and siempre bangod nga layo ang ginahalinan ma- add on gid sila. That is why medyo nagtaas gid ang presyo and also siempre ang feeds and inflation may effect man ina sina dira,” explained Tabuada.
The price of pork reportedly started to rise a few weeks ago. But in November 2023, the highest pork price in the province was listed at P430 per kilo. This was in the town of Balasan.
Are pork prices expected to increase further in the coming weeks?
According to Tabuada, there is a possibility that the price of pork will gradually decrease since the swine inventory in the province is gradually increasing.
Tabuada observed that the province’s swine inventory for March 2024 increased by almost 5,000 heads compared to February 2024.
This is also following the gradual return of operations on commercial pig farms.
According to the PVO head, the provincial government allows the repopulation of swine on commercial farms because they have the capacity and capability to implement strict biosecurity measures and have a laboratory that can monitor the health of swine.
For backyard hog raisers, meanwhile, the PVO and the Department of Agriculture ( DA) are processing the requirements to start the implementation of the sentinel program by April 2024.
One requirement for the program is that the area must be downgraded in its ASF classification from red to pink.
In Iloilo, the towns that are in the process of being lowered to the pink zone from the red zone are Santa Barbara, Batad, San Miguel, Oton, New Lucena, BanTe, Barotac Viejo, Dingle, Mina, Concepcion, Leganes, Janiuay, Lambunao, and San Enrique.
But Tabuada admitted that even though the DA has not yet started the implementation of the sentineling program, some backyard hog raisers are raising pigs anew because it is their only main source of livelihood.
The PVO’s only request to these hog raisers is to coordinate with their Municipal Agriculture Office to be listed and be given guidance in implementing biosecurity measures./