Iloilo raisers get PHP 170 for pork you buy at PHP 360

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Iloilo is set to investigate the wide gap between farmgate and retail pork prices amid concerns that local hog raisers are not receiving fair returns despite the high cost of pork in markets.

During the recent 48th Regular Session of the 15th SP, Board Member Rolito Cajilig, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, delivered a privilege speech seeking an inquiry into market conditions affecting the province’s swine industry.

Cajilig noted that while consumers pay between PHP 300 and PHP 360 per kilogram of pork in local markets, hog raisers reportedly receive only PHP 160 to PHP 170 per kilogram at the farmgate level.

The board member said the disparity raises questions on how prices are determined across the supply chain and whether local producers are getting a fair share of the earnings.

Data presented during the session showed that backyard and small-scale raisers account for 91.77 percent of Iloilo’s swine inventory, making them particularly vulnerable to market fluctuations and pricing pressures.

Aside from the lingering threat of African swine fever (ASF), local raisers are also facing competition from imported and shipped-in pork products.

Records cited during the session showed that 1.2 million kilograms of imported and shipped-in pork entered Iloilo in the first quarter of 2026.

Cajilig moved to refer the matter to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Economic Affairs and Investment for further study.

The committees are expected to examine the gap between farmgate and retail prices, assess the impact of imported pork products on local market conditions, and determine whether existing monitoring and regulatory mechanisms remain adequate.

The concern mirrors a national trend, with the Department of Agriculture flagging what it described as the over-importation of pork after Executive Order 62 lowered tariff rates, a move it said flooded the market and dragged down farmgate prices even as retail prices stayed elevated.

In November 2025, the agency and hog industry stakeholders agreed to set a minimum farmgate price of PHP 210 per kilogram for live hogs to help local producers recover from ASF losses, with the department estimating production costs at PHP 170 to PHP 180 per kilogram.

Vice Governor Nathalie Ann Debuque, in a statement, backed the move, saying the provincial government has heard the concerns of local hog raisers.

“We have heard the hardships and appeals of our hardworking local hog raisers in the province,” she said, adding that the issue deserves closer scrutiny to identify appropriate interventions.

The provincial board is also expected to explore possible measures that could promote fair competition, improve market transparency, and support the long-term sustainability of Iloilo’s swine industry.

“Food security is not only about ensuring that there is enough supply on our tables today. It is also about ensuring that the people who produce our food can continue to do so tomorrow,” Debuque stressed.