To trace the sharp increase of pork prices in Metro Manila, the regional Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs) are closely monitoring and comparing hog farmgate and pork prices at the regional, provincial, municipal and even at the barangay level.

The monitoring report, which is consolidated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), aims to track the movement and eventually compare the prices of live hogs from commercial hog growers and backyard farms before distribution to various markets in every region.

As the AFCs continue to provide data in their respective areas, the Department will use the numbers in forging agreements to impose stricter measures to ease the rising pork prices, particularly in Metro Manila.

Members of the AFCs are private sector-partners of DA at the local level and technically guided by PCAF.

The monitoring report is a result of the National Agriculture and Fisheries (NAF) Council meeting on January 21 where representatives of the livestock sector agreed to relay the strategies to their colleagues in stabilizing price of pork.

Based on the initial analysis of the DA, it was shared in the NAF Council meeting that the increasing pork price spiked mainly due to the interventions of traders and wholesalers. However, with the aid of the monitoring report at the regional level, the analysis can be verified.

“I appreciate the sustained efforts of PCAF and its AFCs in expressing the same passion to fight against African Swine Fever (ASF),” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar. ### JC