The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily lifted the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork to reassess its effectiveness, citing low market compliance and supply-demand imbalances. DA undersecretary Constante Palabrica announced the move during a briefing in Quezon City, emphasizing the need for a revised, more feasible pricing policy that works for both producers and consumers.
Implemented in March, the MSRP aimed to control pork prices in Metro Manila, setting limits at P380 per kg for liempo and P350 per kg for kasim and pigue. However, DA inspections revealed that fewer than 10 percent of retailers complied, largely due to high farm gate prices—exceeding the target of P230 per kg—and added supply chain costs.
Palabrica attributed the challenges to reduced domestic supply caused by the African swine fever and heightened demand during the election season, making enforcement difficult. He stressed the need to balance affordability for consumers with viability for hog raisers.
Agricultural group SINAG welcomed the suspension, noting that hog farmers have mostly adhered to the farm gate price despite financial losses. SINAG urged the DA to clarify which parts of the value chain failed to comply as well as develop mechanisms that better align retail and producer prices.
The policy pause signals a potential shift in the government’s approach to market intervention and underscores ongoing difficulties in stabilizing food prices through regulation.
