PRICE WATCH. A bagnet (deep fried pork belly) vendor in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte makes more sales now as pork supply has become more stable. Currently, pork bagnet is sold at PHP630 per kilo at the Laoag supermarket as compared to PHP700 per kilo last month. (File photo by Leilanie Adriano)
LAOAG CITY – Pork prices saw a drop in prices in this city this week owing to increased inventory of local supply.
Blenda Almo, office-in-charge of the Laoag City Commercial Complex, said Monday market goers are seen buying more meat this time as pork liempo or pork belly saw a PHP30 drop in prices, ending at PHP330 per kilo while pork shoulder dropped to PHP250 per kilo.
“We are inviting everyone to take advantage of the price drops at the supermarket as these are sold fresh instead of frozen," she said as she expressed hope the price drop will be sustained to benefit more consumers.
But on the part of backyard raisers like Alex de Lara from Pila village, he said animal feeds should likewise be reduced to let them earn more.
Ramel Dela Cruz, president of the Laoag City meat vendors association, said the prices of pork are being controlled by middle men who go directly to the backyard raisers.
“We no longer go to the backyard raisers. We get our supply directly to middlemen,” he said adding if they (middle men) drop the price, it follows also that their price drops too.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to assist hog raisers and help them recover from ASF (African swine fever).
In Ilocos Sur province, for example, the DA has turned over PHP5.5 million cash to the Namnama Candon Multi-purpose Cooperative.
Annie Bares, regional executive director of the DA Regional Field Office 1, said the fund allocation is under the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives fro Recovery and Expansion, which "aims to increase local swine inventory of pork supply through the production of head finishers and to provide an additional source of food and income to the farmer-members.”
Early on, the DA in cooperation with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte also extended similar assistance to ASF-affected hog raisers in Ilocos Norte by giving them sentinel piglets as well as feeds, vitamins and deworming supplies.
Agricultural inputs such as fruits and vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides are also made available to farmers upon their request. (PNA)
