BY IME SORNITO and MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – The price of pork in public markets across the city and province of Iloilo has decreased by up to P20 per kilogram. From last month’s rate of P360 per kilogram, the current price has dropped to P340.
In some areas, where prices were previously as high as P380 per kilogram, pork is now being sold at P360.
One such public market experiencing pork price reduction is in Leganes, Iloilo. According to Melvin Labaniego, a 43-year-old meat vendor, the price of pork has notably decreased this month.
“Right now, pork is P340 per kilogram, compared to P360 last month. There has been a P20 drop,” Labaniego told Panay News in an interview.
Labaniego sources his pork supply from various parts of Iloilo province, with some shipments also coming from Mindoro.
But he observed a shortage in supply as early as now, even though the holiday season is still two months away.
“Supply is tight at the moment. I only have one pig right now,” said Labaniego.
Despite this, Labaniego assured that there would be an adequate supply of pork in December, as suppliers are already preparing for the expected surge in demand during the holiday season.
“There will be enough pork come December. Prices might go up, though, as more people buy,” he said.
Samuel Juridico, a 36-year-old resident of Barangay Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo and a pork vendor at the Pavia Public Market, echoed this trend.
“We sell live pigs at P190 per kilogram, and once slaughtered, the price is P360 per kilo. Last month, it was P380, but now it has gone down by P20,” Juridico said.
Juridico, who sources his pork from Igbaras, Iloilo, added that demand remains relatively low at the moment.
Meanwhile, Bornok, 56, a meat vendor from Santa Barbara, Iloilo, reported no price changes in his area, with pork prices steady at P350 per kilogram in both September and October.
“The price has remained the same,” Bornok shared.
He sources his pork from nearby municipalities such as Maasin, Janiuay, and Lambunao.
Bornok also assured that there will be sufficient pork supply for the upcoming holiday season but anticipated a price increase due to higher demand.
“There is plenty of pork. Just from Lambunao alone, we have a large supply. But expect prices to go up,” he said.
Recently, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (PPFP) predicted a rise in retail pork prices as demand is expected to surge during the Christmas season.
In a radio interview, PPFP president Rolando Tambago explained that although the farmgate price of pork remains low, the cost rises significantly after passing through traders and retailers. Prices can reach up to P380 to P400 per kilogram, especially for pork belly.
“There is a big possibility that the retail price of pork will increase due to the Christmas demand, but we are hoping it won’t be too high,” Tambago said.
According to monitoring by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Metro Manila markets, the current retail price of pork shoulder ranges from P260 to P370 per kilogram, while pork belly ranges from P310 to P400 per kilogram.
Tambago added that there is still an adequate supply of pork, as demand has been low in recent months due to the outbreak of African swine fever.
In Region 6, based on DA’s monitoring as of October 17, here are the prices of pork:
* Mclain Public Market in Jordan, Guimaras — pork ham at P350 per kilo; pork liempo at P360 per kilo
* Jaro Big Market in Iloilo City – pork ham at P340 per kilo; pork liempo at P350 per kilo
* Iloilo Central Market in Iloilo City – pork ham at P350 per kilo; pork liempo at P350 per kilo
* Libertad Public Market in Antique – pork ham at P340 per kilo; pork liempo at P340 per kilo
* Teodoro Arcenas Public Market in Capiz – pork ham at P330 per kilo; pork liempo at P330 per kilo/PN
