Philippines coordinating with US for ASF vaccine trials
Published February 15, 2021 8:05pm The Philippines is already coordinating with the United States for the conduct of vaccine trials against African swine fever, the Department of Agriculture said Monday. According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras,” the DA’s ASF vaccine working committee is already in talks with the United States Department of Agriculture. The DA said the budget for the licensing agreement is also ready. “We are communicating with the USDA. ‘Yong response ng USDA naman ay very positive. Ang tawag nila is gene deletion protocol. Kung ano ‘yong binigay sa Vietnam, ‘yon na rin mismo ang ibibigay sa atin,” Agriculture Undersecretary William Medrano said.
An official of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. on Tuesday said traders do not manipulate the prices of their products amid the rise of pork prices in the market.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order imposing price cap on pork and chicken in the National Capital Region only covers public or wet markets.
Pork, chicken price cap a burden to hog, poultry raisers
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) It might be a relief to consumers but the approved price ceiling on pork and chicken products could also be a burden to hog and poultry raisers.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 124, which imposes a price ceiling of ₱270 per kilo for kasim and pigue, ₱300 per kilo for liempo, and ₱160 per kilogram for dressed chicken sold in Metro Manila for 60 days.
The Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines lamented the Department of Agriculture’s failure to consult with hog raisers before coming up with the recommended price ceiling.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
During the Senate agriculture and food committee’s hearing, Agriculture Secretary William Dar maintained that wholesalers and traders are engaged in profiteering and are responsible for the alarming spike of the retail prices of pork.
Dar, citing the DA’s latest data for January, said production cost in regions averages at P105 per kilogram, while farmgate prices range between P132 to P185 per kilo
But Senator Imee Marcos doubted this report.
“Hindi ako maniwala sa P132 (I don’t believe that P132-per-kilo farm gate price)…Marami pong aalma sa P105, hindi yata masyadong makakatotohanan (Many will also dispute that P105 cost of production, it’s not that realistic),” Marcos told Dar, citing concerns from her constituents Ilocos Norte, hog raisers and other stakeholders.