DA, hog groups agree on P210 per kilo floor price for live hogs

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and local hog industry groups have agreed to implement a floor price of P210 per kilogram for live hogs.

This measure aims to protect local hog raisers from current farmgate prices that have plunged below production costs, leaving them struggling with rising feed expenses and soft demand.

The agreement was finalized following consultations with Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc., and the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. noted that despite the sharp fall in farmgate prices, consumers have not experienced any relief, with pork belly still selling around P400 per kilo.

DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa stated that the P210 floor price, which seeks to prevent further losses among hog producers while keeping pork prices stable for consumers, has no effectivity date yet but will be implemented within the year.

The DA and hog raisers are also pushing to restore the pork import tariff to 40% from 25% under Executive Order 62, arguing that lower duties have led to excessive imports that flooded the market with cheap pork.