Gov’t temporarily lifts price cap on pork

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily lifted the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) policy for pork sold in wet markets due to low compliance among vendors, while maintaining a ban on pork imports from China and several European countries amid ongoing efforts to contain African swine fever (ASF).

The ban on pork and pork-based products remains in effect for China and select European nations—including Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine—to safeguard local swine farms from the spread of ASF.

“It (has been) lifted while we are studying how we can implement the MSRP (better),” DA Undersecretary Palabrica said, explaining the decision to suspend the policy.

He acknowledged that while the move may seem like a step backward, it is part of a broader effort to revise the pricing mechanism in a way that will encourage better compliance among pork vendors.

“Since the policy was implemented on March 10, we have been lamenting low compliance with the MSRP at only about 30 percent,” the official noted.

The MSRP had previously pegged pork prices in wet markets at P380 per kilo for liempo and P350 per kilo for kasim and pigue, while trader-to-retailer prices were set at P300 per kilo. These rates did not apply to supermarkets and hypermarkets.

“So expect a possible revision of the MSRP, (we’re) holding it in the meantime while we’re studying how we can make it really effective,” Palabrica said.

“Let’s put it this way. We’re going to lift it, we’re going to study it, then come up with a revised program,” he added.

The agriculture official explained that retailers have struggled to meet the current MSRP due to persistent pork supply issues linked to ASF outbreaks, compounded by increased consumer demand during the recent elections.“So we’re going to study it and come up with a better policy,” Palabrica emphasized, noting that sellers have voiced concerns about being unable to offer a wider variety of cuts, which has forced them to rely heavily on sales of kasim and liempo to recoup losses. TRACY CABRERA