Gov’t eyes stricter enforcement of pork prices

Metro Manila, Philippines - Pork prices agreed upon among industry participants will be strictly enforced or the government will step in to meet “reasonable levels” in market prices and higher compliance of the price cap, a Cabinet official said on Monday, March 31.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he was disappointed with stakeholders as compliance was low on the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on pork three weeks after implementation.

Laurel told reporters that the agency would meet pork stakeholders.

He said farms and traders might be the non-compliant actors and not the retailers, calling their actions “bordering on profiteering.”

“Maganda kita eh, ‘yan ang basic reason na they want to maximize until they can siguro… Naghihintay silang ipitin sila ng gobyerno eh darating na ‘yon,” the DA chief said.

[Translation: The profits are good, that might be the basic reason that’s why they want to maximize until they can. They’re just waiting for the government to pressure them — it is coming.]

Laurel said the strict enforcement of the MSRP might begin “this week or next week.”

He added that he might even request House Speaker Martin Romualdez to invite erring pork stakeholders in a quinta-committee hearing, a mega panel at the House of Representatives that has been investigating issues on high food prices.

The DA previously said only around 30 percent of traders have followed the maximum suggested price for “sabit-ulo” at P300 per kilogram (kg). “Sabit-ulo” refers to pig carcass delivered to sellers to be cut into portions each marked with corresponding prices.

Laurel also said some farmgate prices have yet to comply with the P230/kg.

He noted only 30 percent full compliance in Metro Manila markets for the pork MSRP.

As of Monday, the agency’s price monitoring showed pork kasim (shoulder) was sold at P330 per kilogram to P400/kg while pork liempo (belly) at P360/kg to P420/kg.

The price of kasim was P360/kg and liempo P420/kg.

The DA set the MSRP for kasim at P350/kg and liempo at P380 on March 10.

“Definitely ipapababa natin ‘yan at kung kailangan namin gumawa ng double time sa ikot at stricter enforcement sa mga food safety ng mga biyahero, ng mga farm, gagawin namin ‘yan para masunod ang usapan,” Laurel said.

[Translation: Definitely, we will bring it down and if we need to double time on inspections and have stricter enforcement in the food safety of traders, of farms, we will do that to follow what was agreed upon.]