Maximum suggested retail price of pork in NCR wet markets effective March 10

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The maximum suggested retail price of pork belly is P380 per kilo, which was agreed upon by the government and the hog industry, says the Department of Agriculture

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced that the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of pork in Metro Manila wet markets will take effect on Monday, March 10.

DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said that after a series of consultations, the government and the hog industry made a unanimous decision to set the following MSRPs:

• Kasim (shoulder), pigue (leg/ham): P350 per kilo
• Liempo (belly): P380 per kilo

The DA is also setting a suggested price for “sabit ulo” or the price at which traders pass pork to retailers.

“Napagkasunduan din talaga na ‘yung P400 na presyo ng baboy pataas ay hindi magandang presyo; very unreasonable,” said De Mesa. (It was also agreed upon that the price of P400 and above for pork is not a good price; very unreasonable.)

According to Manny Pareja, president of the United Vendors Las Piñas Public Market, at the farmgate price of P230 per kilo, the P350 MSRP for pork shoulder and ham becomes attainable and gives a profit margin of P120 from traders to retailers.

There will be a review a month after implementation. The MSRP for pork follows the MSRP for imported rice set in January.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets will be exempt from the MRSP, the DA said, citing their higher operating costs.

Jayson Cainglet, executive director of of agriculture group Sinag, said the MSRP can address the “disconnect” between farmgate and retail prices.

“Ang laging problema talaga ng industry ‘yung disconnect ng farmgate sa retail, across commodities ‘yan,” said Cainglet. “Kaya sana itong mga sinasabi natin na MSRP, makinabang ‘yung consumers sa napakamurang kinukuha sa ating mga producers.”

(The usual problem in the industry is the disconnect between farmgate and retail [prices], that’s across commodities. That’s why with this MSRP, hopefully consumers benefit from the cheaper purchase from our producers.)

As of Thursday, prevailing prices of pigue and belly in Metro Manila are at P380 per kilo and P450 per kilo, respectively. – Rappler.com