Agri group ‘amenable’ to MSRP on pork if prices remain high next week

Metro Manila, Philippines - An agricultural group said it would be “amenable” to the imposition of a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on pork if the price tag remains high next week.

The group has provided figures for the price ceiling based on production costs based on talks with government officials.

“After consulting with other players din, kung hindi talaga bababa ang presyo by next week, we are amenable kung mag-impose ang DA (Department of Agriculture) ng MSRP na P380 for liempo and belly, ‘yong mga choice cuts, and P360 for kasim ang pigue,” Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) executive director Jayson Cainglet said in an interview with NewsWatch Plus on Friday, Feb. 28.

[Translation: After consulting with other players, if prices won’t go down by next week, we are amenable if the DA would impose an MSRP of P380 per kilogram for belly and P360 per kilogram for shoulder and ham.]

“We leave it to the DA kung ano ‘yong makikita nilang dapat na MSRP, but from the producer side, ‘yun talaga na nakikita naming MSRP na walang lugi,” Cainglet said.

[Translation: We leave it to the DA what it sees as the right MSRP, but from the producer side, that’s the MSRP level that no stakeholder will be at a loss.]

The DA on Feb. 18 deferred its plan to impose an MSRP on pork, prices of which remain elevated even before the Christmas season. Industry players have agreed to review their cost structures.

Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said on Wednesday that the DA is still consulting with stakeholders to determine the right price for pork.

De Mesa said stakeholders have agreed “there’s a need to bring the prices down.”

Cainglet said “excess pricing” on pork products does not come from hog producers.

Vendors’ side

According to the DA price monitoring, fresh kasim and pigue is sold for P360 to P430 per kilogram in Metro Manila markets, and fresh liempo at P380 to P480.

Some pork vendors told NewsWatch Plus that they favor an MSRP to help consumers, many of whom have resorted to buying less.

“Basta babaan ang presyo ng baboy okay lang sa ’min para makapagpababa rin kami ng presyo,” vendor Elizabeth Espino said.

[Translation: We will be okay with the MSRP but we should get the pork at a lower price so that we can sell it at a lower price as well.]

“Dapat bigyan nila ng ayuda yong mga tindera sa palengke dahil talagang araw-araw lugi talaga sa sobrang tumal,” she added.

[Translation: Wet market vendors should also be given aid because we are in a deficit each day with fewer customers.]

Vendor Popoy Reyes said the MSRP should be for a short period just to bring down prices.