Groups representing hog farmers in the Philippines are calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take immediate action to rescue the struggling local pork industry, which is facing severe challenges due to an influx of imported pork and plummeting farmgate prices.
In a letter to the President, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (PPFPI), Philippine Pork Council Alliance Inc., and other industry groups reported that the current farmgate price for hogs has dropped to between P130 and P140 per kilo, significantly lower than the production cost of P180 to P190 per kilo. This pricing disparity has resulted in farmers incurring losses of at least P50 per kilo, equating to approximately P250 million in losses daily.
If corrective measures are not implemented soon, the industry anticipates total losses reaching P22.5 billion within a 90-day period. In response to the situation, AGAP Party-list Representative Nicanor Briones has urged the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs to intensify their efforts to combat suspected undervaluation, incorrect declarations, and potential technical smuggling of imported pork.
Industry representatives have suggested several measures, including increasing tariffs on imported pork, imposing temporary import restrictions, and implementing stricter inspections for imported pork products to protect local hog farmers and consumers.