DA sets pork price ceiling amid high costs
Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) will be imposing a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork in Metro Manila wet markets to curb high prices.
The pork MSRP, which is based on producer cost, will begin on March 10, Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa announced on Thursday, March 6, following the last round of consultations with stakeholders.
The price ceiling will be set for liempo (belly) at P380 per kilogram, kasim (shoulder) and pigue (ham) at P350/kg.
“‘Yung diskusyon kanina ay unanimous, ni walang binigay na figure ang DA, kung hindi ito yung kaisahan talaga ng industry para matulungan ang ating mga consumers na bumaba ang presyo ng baboy,” Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) executive director Jayson Cainglet said in an interview with reporters.
[Translation; The discussion was unanimous. The DA did not give a figure but it was a figure agreed upon by the whole industry to help consumers with lower pork prices.]
The DA raised the possibility of a pork MSRP in January, but in February, the agency deferred its plan to hold further consultations.
To ensure that the MSRP will be met, a maximum suggested price for sabit-ulo was also set for P300/kg. Sabit-ulo refers to the pig carcass delivered to sellers, which they will cut up into portions each marked with corresponding prices.
De Mesa said the agency’s discussions with stakeholders proved that the retail side had “reasonable” profits amid the high prices of pork. Prices have been elevated since before the Christmas season.
“Kung susundin po ng mga biyaheros (traders) ‘yong P70 pesos na margin nila at kami (retailers) P50, talagang masusunod po ‘yong P350,” said Manny Pareja, president of the United Vendors Las Piñas Public Market.
“So, talagang sila na po ang [hihintayin] namin na ‘yong sabit-ulo at makumply nila ‘yong P300 talagang for sure ‘yong P350 talaga ‘yon lang po magiging presyo,” Pareja added.
[Translation: If the traders will follow their margin of P70 and us, retailers, P50, the P350 for pork ham will be followed. We wait for them to comply with the sabit-ulo price of P300, and for sure the price of P350 will be met.]
Pork ham sells for P350/kg to P420/kg in Metro Manila markets, and belly for P375/kg to P480/kg, according to the DA price monitor on Wednesday.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered Agriculture Undersecretary Dante Palabrica to review cost structures of all regions to study imposing MSRP for pork outside Metro Manila, said De Mesa.
De Mesa said the police and the Department of Trade and Industry will also monitor compliance on pork MSRP, adding the DA has “more powers” on meat regulation compared to rice.
When asked when the MSRP will end, the agriculture spokesperson said, “Depende sa takbo sa merkado. Sinabi naman palagi ni [Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.], kapag wala na tayong problema, maayos na yung ganitong issue, itong imposition ng MSRP will eventually be removed.”
[Translation: It would depend on what would happen in the market. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and I have been saying once problems are solved, the imposition of MSRP will eventually be removed.]
