Zubiri to DA chief: Crack down on pork price manipulators

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri dared Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to crack down on pork price manipulators, smugglers and excessive meat imports amid struggling hog raisers and falling farm gate prices that continue to affect consumers.

Zubiri issued his challenge to the Department of Agriculture (DA) chief during a Senate hearing on the department’s proposed budget on Wednesday.

READ: DA backs ‘phased’ pork tariff hikes

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“Ilabas mo yung galit mo sa mga predatory pricing, pati yung mga smugglers. Labanan mo, huwag ka matakot,” Zubiri told Tiu Laurel.

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(Direct your anger toward those engaging in predatory pricing, as well as the smugglers. Fight back, don’t be afraid.)

READ: 3 truckloads of smuggled hot meat disposed of in Pampanga

He then stressed that Tiu Laurel must show his strong leadership through regular public market inspections and visible enforcement against abusive pricing practices.

“With due respect, I think the people just want to see more action from the government,” Zubiri stated.

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The senator’s appeal came amid mounting complaints from hog raisers in Bukidnon and other agricultural provinces stemming from excessive import competition and rising production expenses that have placed backyard producers—which cover 80 percent of the country’s pork producers—under severe financial pressure.

Zubiri also disclosed that farmgate prices had dropped from P185 per kilogram in 2024 to between P90 and P120 this year, falling below the estimated production costs of P130 to P140 per kilogram and forcing many small producers to operate at a loss.

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“Why is it that the farm-to-market price na bilihin ng ating mga backyard ay P90 to P120, P110 na napakababa, which is below their cost of production? Kasi ang cost of production nila, P130 per kilo, P140. Lugi sila. Bakit po ang presyo sa merkado ay napakamahal pa rin?” Zubiri questioned.

(Why is it that the farm-gate price for produce from our backyard farmers is only P90 to P120—or even as low as P110—which is below their cost of production? Since their production cost is P130 to P140 per kilo, they are operating at a loss. Why, then, do market prices remain so high?)

He then underscored the substantial disparity between farmgate and retail pork prices, pointing out that pork belly was selling for as much as P380 per kilogram in public markets even as some Mindanao hog raisers received barely P100 per kilogram for live hogs.

“Hindi nila alam bakit ang taas ng presyo ng bilihin, pero sa kanila, napakababa ng farmgate prices. Talagang it blows the mind,” Zubiri said.

(They don’t know why the prices of goods are so high, yet for them, farmgate prices are extremely low. It’s truly mind-boggling.)

“Because the farmers, lalo na yung 80 percent, they’re suffering now. Talagang hirap na hirap sila. So they need assistance from the DA para makita talaga nila.”

(Because the farmers—especially the 80 percent—are suffering right now. They are truly struggling immensely. So, they need assistance from the DA so that they can really see the support.)

Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel, for his part said the DA is already preparing to temporarily suspend certain pork imports.

“Pwede akong mag-suspend ng importation ng kasim, pigue at belly for 60 days or stop issuance of new SPSIC (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances),” Laurel disclosed during the hearing.

(I can suspend the importation of pork shoulder, ham, and belly for 60 days, or halt the issuance of new SPSICs.)

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SPSICs refer to permits required for importing agricultural products such as meat to ensure compliance with animal health and food safety requirements. /jpv