The Department of Agriculture (DA) will implement a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork in wet markets across the National Capital Region starting 10 March. The new price cap will set pork liempo at P380 per kilogram, kasim and pigue at P350 per kilogram, and “sabit ulo” (the price traders pass to retailers) at P300 per kilogram.
This initiative comes after consultations with industry stakeholders, including producers, wholesalers, traders, and retailers. The DA emphasized that the MSRP aims to help sustain the local pork industry, which continues to face challenges due to the African swine fever (ASF). Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the price cap would be reviewed after a month for potential adjustments.
Pork sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets will be exempt due to their higher operating costs. The DA has also gathered support from industry groups, such as the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura and the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, recognizing the need to keep pork prices below P400 per kilogram to prevent consumers from turning to imports or alternative protein sources.
The new pricing structure comes amid rising pork prices in wet markets, where pork ham sells from P350 to P420 per kilogram and pork belly from P375 to P480 per kilogram, according to DA monitoring.
