The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Tuesday a pork price stabilization program in Metro Manila involving state-run Food Terminals Inc. (FTI) partnering with Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CP Foods). The pilot endeavor involves the supply of live hogs at reduced prices. This collaboration, signed via a memorandum of agreement, will see CP Foods deliver 100 live hogs daily to a slaughterhouse in Caloocan, bypassing traditional supply chains to reduce costs.
The trial, set to run from April to June, will supply fresh pork to retailers in Metro Manila, Rizal, and Cavite.
FTI president Joseph Lo said CP Foods’ ability to supply the commodity at an affordable price made them an ideal partner for the program. If proven effective, the program could help stabilize prices and reduce the industry’s vulnerability to supply chain disruptions.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the agreement is a step toward modernizing the domestic pork industry, improving the supply chain, and ensuring food security. The initiative comes amid challenges to the pork price ceiling, with prevailing market prices still above the suggested retail price caps.
It is hoped the pilot project will provide the practical solution for both consumers and the industry.
