Oriental Mindoro hog raisers join 3-day ‘pork holiday’

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Hog raisers in Oriental Mindoro have joined a nationwide three-day “pork holiday” from Thursday to Saturday (October 22 to 24) to protest the continued drop in farmgate prices of hogs and other challenges facing the local industry.

The Oriental Mindoro Alliance of United Hog Raisers said it is heeding the call of AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones to temporarily suspend selling hogs as part of a collective protest by hog raisers.

The farmers attribute the declining prices largely to the influx of imported pork in local markets. According to the industry, farmgate prices have dropped to ₱130 to ₱140 per kilogram, while the estimated cost of production remains at ₱180 to ₱190 per kilogram, indicating that many farmers are selling at a loss.

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READ: Zubiri to DA chief: Crack down on pork price manipulators

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Briones has called for higher tariffs on imported pork, stricter import regulations, and stronger enforcement against illegal shipments and misdeclaration of meat products.

The three-day sales suspension  aims to bring the industry’s concerns to the government’s attention and urge immediate measures to protect hog raisers’ livelihoods. 

In a phone interview on Thursday, Nelson Mangako, who represents hog-raisers from Socorro town in the alliance, said hog raisers are joining the pork holiday to register their anger at government inaction. 

“Masayado nang kawawa ang kalagayan naming mga hog raisers. Mataas na ang presyo ng feeds, tapos napakababa naman ng bili sa aming mga magbababoy,” Managako said. 

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(The plight of hog raisers is turned pitiful. Feed prices are already high, yet the buying price for our pigs is very low) 

According to Managako, hog-raising is a P300-million-a-month enterprise in the province alone.