The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urged to quickly check the soaring cost of milled soya, a key feed ingredient, in order to assure consumers ample pork supply at fair prices ahead of the Christmas season.

Rep. Arnel Ty, a member of the House committee on trade and industry said they requested the DA to look into the demand-supply situation of miled soya as a number of swine growers have complained difficulty in obtaining the vital feed input from importers.

Ty, who represents the sectoral party LPG Marketers' Association (LPG-MA) in Congress said they raised the issue on Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala when the latter promised to promptly call for a department inquiry on the matter.

Milled soya prices have surged to as high as PHP36 (US$0.86) per kilo from PHP27 (US$0.65) per kilo in August, and from only PHP22 (US$0.53) per kilo in July.

A rich source of protein, milled soya accounts for 25 percent of most swine feed.

The Philippines does not grow soya beans and is totally dependent on a handful of milled soya importers.

Should milled soya prices continue to climb, this surely impact local swine growers, and ultimately adversely affect pork consumers, Ty said.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, he urged the DA to take strong actions to guarantee consumers sufficient pork supply at reasonable prices.

If necessary, Ty said extra shipments of milled soya should be brought in to address potential shortages. This way, swine producers will have adequate supply of the feed ingredient all the time. He added the National Food Authority could import additional supplies of milled soya in order to establish a buffer, adding that the agency is mandated by law to secure the country's supply of all kinds of grains, not just rice.