Gov’t to impose MSRP on imported pork

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government will impose a price ceiling on imported pork instead of on local produce, the Department of Agriculture (DA), said.

The procedure cost-determined maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) was suspended in May after an industry plea in response to short supply caused by the impact of the African Swine Fever. 

“When something is short, you cannot control it, wala tayong magagawa diyan [we cannot do anything about it],” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a news conference on Monday, June 16. “Ang MSRP ilalagay natin sa [The MSRP will be imposed on] imported pork.”

There has been a low compliance rate among retailers since the implementation of the pork MSRP in March. The price ceiling was for liempo (belly) at P380 per kilogram, and kasim (shoulder) and pigue (ham) at P350/kg.

Tiu Laurel said the MSRP may be imposed on imported cuts by the first week of August.

“I will talk to the industry. This is a short-term policy only,” he said in a chance interview.

Tiu Laurel said the reasonable price for frozen kasim is P270/kg to P300/kg, while frozen liempo is P300/kg to P350/kg.

As of June 13, local pork ham is sold in Metro Manila for P350/kg to P430/kg, pork belly at P380/kg to P490/kg, frozen kasim at P230 to P300, and frozen liempo at P290 to P350.

Tiu Laurel also said his agency is finishing labeling guidelines on pork products to distinguish local from imported produce.

“Nakita namin na may issue na nagpo-profiteer using imported pork sa wet market at pinapasa siya bilang locally fresh butchered… We have to put order sa retail natin na walang dayaan,” he said.

[Translation: We recently saw profiteering by disguising imported pork as locally fresh butchered meat in the wet market. We have to put order in the retail side to ensure there is no cheating.]

Meanwhile, the government will also set to sell cheap pork through the Kadiwa outlets by the first week of August in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.

Tiu Laurel said his agency will try to sell the cheaper pork in 38 public markets in Metro Manila with the approval of local government units.

He said this will also be available in Department of Labor and Employment accredited employers and organizations.