The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing to reinstate the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork as early as the end of June, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Speaking to reporters in Manila, Tiu Laurel said the proposed price remains at ₱380 per kilogram for pork belly (liempo) and ₱350 for pork shoulder and ham cuts (kasim and pigue).
The MSRP was temporarily suspended due to low compliance from traders and retailers. To ensure greater success this time, the DA plans to scale up its direct-selling strategy through Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), minimizing middlemen to stabilize prices. Under an agreement with Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods, FTI receives 100 live hogs daily for processing and direct market distribution in Metro Manila.
Tiu Laurel said some 150,000 metric tons of pork are planned for distribution to Metro Manila consumers through early 2026. The government is also setting up infrastructure—such as market booths and cold storage—to support the initiative. A ₱500 million standby fund from Malacañang has been requested but is expected to be used only if necessary, as FTI aims to operate sustainably without subsidies.
The move is part of broader efforts to bring down food prices and reduce the influence of costly intermediaries in the supply chain.
