The Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday it will enforce a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of P350 per kilogram for pork shoulder (kasim) and P380 for pork belly (liempo) in Metro Manila starting March 10, 2025.
However, pork sold in “modern markets,” such as supermarkets and hypermarkets, will be exempt from the MSRP due to their higher operating costs.
Agriculture secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the measure aims to ease the financial burden on consumers amid persistently high meat prices and ongoing challenges in the pork industry, particularly the lingering effects of African Swine Fever (ASF).
“After consulting industry stakeholders—from producers to retailers—we believe the MSRP will help sustain the pork industry, which continues to suffer from ASF’s impact,” he explained after a meeting with pork industry stakeholders.
The DA will also set a P300 per kilo minimum selling price (MSP) for “sabit ulo,” or the rate at which traders pass pork to retailers.
The pricing scheme will be reviewed after a month to assess the need for adjustments.
Undersecretary for livestock Dante Palabrica noted that industry groups support the government’s efforts to make pork more affordable.
“They recognize that if prices exceed P400 per kilo, consumers may shift to imported pork or other protein sources like chicken and fish,” he said.
Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura chairman Rosendo So said his group supports the DA’s initiative and will continue to do their best “to help ease the burden on Filipino consumers.”
ProPork president Rolando Tambago and National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. chairman Chester Warren Yeo Tan agreed that the new measure will benefit both consumers and the entire pork value chain.
Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine National Police were present during the consultation.