Pork Prices on the Rise: What’s Driving the Increase and How does the Government Respond?

Annual comparison of the average retail price of pork in Metro Manila showed an increase of 20.7%, rising from Php331.25 in 2024 to Php400 in 2025. The DA attributed the price hike to the lingering effects of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak and the heightened seasonal demand during the 2024 holiday season. The ASF outbreak reduced livestock numbers, affecting supply. However, the agency remains optimistic that prices will stabilize as hog raisers gradually rebuild their stock. This recovery, expected in the coming weeks, should help ease pressure on pork prices. Pork producers also anticipate that prices will decrease over the next four weeks.

Government Initiatives

In response to the escalating ASF crisis and its impact on the swine industry, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) has introduced several innovative solutions and research initiatives. In addition to the ASFV Nanogold Biosensor test kit, the herd immunity project, the epidemiological surveillance program, and the molecular detection and transmission risk assessment project, DOST-PCAARRD has launched two other projects to address the ASF crisis in the country. The DA also launched a project that will revitalize the local pig supply by assisting pig farmers to help farmers recover from the ASF outbreak. These new initiatives further expand efforts to mitigate the spread of ASF and support the recovery of the swine industry.

• Brisk Response through In-location Diagnostics and Genomic Sequencing System for Animal Disease Testing and Vaccine Research (BRIDGES) Project

The project, funded by DOST and monitored by PCAARRD, aims to improve the Philippines’ capacity for animal disease diagnostics and vaccine research, considering both swine and poultry industries. The project, implemented by BioAssets Corporation, is expected to address challenges like limited access to diagnostic laboratories, long diagnostic turnaround times, and dependence on imported vaccines. It will establish mobile laboratory units and incorporate advanced pathogen detection technologies to provide faster, more accurate disease diagnoses, particularly in rural and resource-limited areas. Additionally, the project will support the development of locally tailored vaccines, helping farmers manage emerging diseases and reduce losses from outbreaks. By strengthening the country’s animal health systems, it aims to promote sustainable farming, increase productivity, and achieve self-sufficiency in animal health inputs. The project is expected to be completed by August 2026.

• Subunit Vaccine for ASF

Another initiative funded by DOST and monitored by PCAARRD aims to develop a safe and effective subunit vaccine for ASF by utilizing the Hepatitis E Virus Nanoparticle (HEVNP) as a vector. The HEVNP platform has shown promise in delivering specific antigens to stimulate a robust immune response, which could significantly enhance ASF vaccine efficacy while eliminating risks associated with live or inactivated vaccines. Implemented by the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) in Taguig City, the project will provide a safer and more effective vaccine to combat ASF. This vaccine could reduce the economic losses caused by ASF outbreaks and improve the resilience of the local swine industry. The project is slated for completion by March 2029.

• DA’s Swine Industry Recovery Project (SIRP)

The DA launched the Swine Industry Recovery Project (SIRP) to help pig farms recover from the ASF outbreak. To ensure the project’s success, the DA has established a steering committee, technical working group, and project management office to oversee its implementation. SIRP will focus on enhancing biosecurity measures, modernizing farm infrastructure, improving genetic quality, and expanding market access. By supporting smallholder farmers, cooperatives, commercial breeders, and at-risk agricultural communities, the project aims to restore and sustain swine production. The initiative’s targeted assistance will help boost pork supply, easing market shortages and stabilizing prices. 

The project aims to substitute 10% of imported pork, or 60,000,000 kg, by boosting domestic production by establishing over 100 multiplier and production farms. These farms will produce tens of thousands of piglets annually, benefiting more than 1,000 members of Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) in ASF-free areas. The initiative also targets supporting 50,000 households and engaging 100 swine integrators to ensure sustainable production and stabilize pork prices.

Market Outlook

Pork prices in Metro Manila have surged to Php400 per kg, while Los Baños, Laguna, has seen even higher rates at Php440 per kg. This increase is fueled by supply shortages caused by the ASF outbreak and heightened holiday demand. However, hog production is anticipated to recover in the coming months, which could help stabilize prices. Government initiatives, like the SIRP and enhanced monitoring efforts, aim to support supply chain recovery and prevent further market disruptions.  

Higher prices mean potential profit for farmers, but persistent supply shortages expose the industry’s ongoing vulnerabilities. Initiatives such as  DOST-PCAARRD’s BRIDGES project and ASF subunit vaccine development seek to improve disease diagnostics, enhance biosecurity, and strengthen local vaccine production. These efforts will help farmers rebuild their livestock, reduce reliance on imported vaccines, and enhance the industry’s long-term stability.