The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Thursday that more than 355,000 live hogs were shipped to Metro Manila from various regions to augment supply of the commodity in the metropolis.

The delivery on Wednesday (April 28) reached 4,437 heads of hogs or 26,785 kilograms. This brings the cumulative total to 355,978 heads after provinces started supplying hogs to Metro Manila since February when Luzon was affected by the African swine fever (ASF).

Data provided by the DA showed that the largest number of deliveries were transported from Calabarzon Region with a total of 1,426 hogs or 32 percent of Wednesday’s deliveries.

Soccsksargen Region sent out 1,181 hogs from General Santos City and South Cotabato.

Next is Western Visayas which managed to deliver 896 hogs from Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo.

Bicol Region also transported 552 hogs, as well as Mimaropa with 230 hogs, and Davao Region with 145 hogs.

Central Luzon delivered seven hogs from Tarlac, on top of its 28,785 kilograms of carcass delivery.

This week, DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service showed that the price of fresh pork shoulder (kasim) ranges from PHP340 to PHP390, while liempo sells for PHP360 to PHP420 in 11 major markets in the National Capital Region.

The lowest price in liempo and kasim is experienced in Region VI at PHP250 per kilogram and PHP260 per kilogram, respectively, the report added

On the other hand, the highest price for both choice cuts can be observed in Central Luzon at PHP350 to 380 per kg. The prices on Thursday remain the same as compared to Wednesday’s, except for the PHP10 decrease in the price of kasim in Calabarzon.

The delivery of hogs from various provinces to Metro Manila is DA’s measure to augment the low supply of pork and pork products in the metropolis. The unmet demand due to the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country has resulted in skyrocketing prices of meat products in the market. (PNA)