The Department of Trade and Industry assured prices and supply of Christmas hams are stable this month despite the higher prices of pork in the local market following the resurgence of the African Swine Fever.
Most retail establishments have different types of hams lined up at the freezer section.
The Consumer Protection Group of the DTI said there was sufficient supply of hams in the market as manufacturers prepared ahead of the holiday festivities.
“Yes, Christmas hams are included in the Noche Buena SRP [suggested retail price],” said Trade Undersecretary for CPG Ruth Castelo.
Castelo said manufacturers were advised by the DTI to carry over the 2019 prices of Noche Buena list to 2020.
“This means that hams should be sold at the same prices they were sold last year. This should be in effect from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, 2020,” she said.
Pork Producers Association of the Philippines president Edwin Chen said there should be enough supply of pork for the traditional Christmas hams.
“I think there is enough supply of hams in the coming holiday season. Manufacturers prepared for this since this is an annual tradition and they have been preparing, curing the hams months ahead,” he said.
Chen said that prices may be a bit higher because of the cost of pork increased following the resurgence of the ASF.
Christmas hams in major groceries and supermarkets sell from a range of P530 to P580 per kilogram for premium hams. Other ham products cost P470 to P500/kg while yuletide pear hams are priced from P170 to P195 apiece.
Latest data showed 406,899 pigs have already been killed since the outbreak started in August 2019. ASF is now present in 11 regions, 34 provinces, 392 municipalities and 2,061 barangays in the country.
This is about 3.6 percent of the total hog inventory of the country at 11.27 million but this inventory has already declined by 13 percent in just a span of one year.