MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) moved to quell public anxiety, clarifying that reported price surges for meat products are strictly hypothetical “worst-case” projections and do not reflect current market realities.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. explained during a recent Senate briefing that figures suggesting pork could hit ₱500 per kilo and chicken ₱300 per kilo were part of a risk assessment involving extreme global conditions. These spikes would only occur if international crude oil reached $200 per barrel and the Middle East crisis caused severe infrastructure damage for over 180 days—conditions that have not been met.
As of late March, the DA reports that food supplies remain robust. The poultry sector is currently experiencing a “bit of overproduction,” keeping retail chicken prices stable between ₱150 and ₱240 per kilo. Meanwhile, pork inventory is bolstered by significant imported stocks in cold storage, with retail prices for popular cuts like kasim and liempo hovering between ₱320 and ₱400 per kilo.
To insulate consumers from global energy volatility, the DA has activated a “Food Security Shield” featuring several key interventions:
Logistics Subsidies: Distribution of fuel vouchers to farmers and fisherfolk to offset rising transport costs.
Price Freezes: A 60-day price freeze on processed goods committed to by major food manufacturers.
Price Caps: A proposed ₱50 cap on imported rice to buffer against a ₱2 to ₱5 per kilo increase in logistics expenses.
The agency is also intensifying market monitoring in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs) to enforce Suggested Retail Prices (SRP). Officials reiterated that there is no immediate issue with food supply and urged the public to rely on official bulletins and avoid panic-buying.
Moving forward, the government is prioritizing long-term investments in post-harvest facilities and irrigation. These measures aim to streamline the “farm-to-table” process and reduce the country’s sensitivity to international oil shocks, ensuring the Filipino table remains well-fed and the local economy resilient.
