The maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on pork, implemented to lower retail pork prices, is set to be lifted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the agency seeks to revise the policy to crack down on low compliance.

In an interview on Wednesday, May 14, Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Constante Palabrica said the order suspending the policy is set to be issued “within 24 hours,” which will include the parameters of a planned review.

“We're going to lift and then we're going to study. And then come out with a revised program for MSRP,” said Palabrica.

It was earlier reported that compliance with the MSRP on pork has fallen to less than five percent of sellers across Metro Manila’s wet markets.

The low compliance is apparent in the recent surge of the retail price of pork, reaching as high as ₱480 per kilo in certain markets.

Implemented in March, the price limit of pork was set at ₱350 per kilo for pigue (leg/ham) and kasim (shoulder), and ₱380 per kilo for liempo (pork belly). The MSRP was also enforced for “sabit ulo” or freshly slaughtered carcass at ₱300 per kilo.

“With the lifting, we will try to make it feasible that the pork farmers and the consumers will be given a win-win situation,” said Palabrica.

The official, however, said the country’s pork supply was recently limited by strong demand fueled by the just-concluded 2025 midterm elections, as well as the lingering effects of the African swine fever (ASF).

Since ASF had its first outbreak in 2019, the swine population fell from nearly 13 million heads to approximately eight million.

As the agency moves to restore the hog population, Palabrica said the government will temporarily rely on importing more pork products.

The DA, through Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), earlier tapped Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CP Foods) to supply 100 live hogs per day, which will then be processed to be delivered to various retailers.

Palabrica said the agency will raise the daily delivery to 500 hogs before year-end, as negotiations with other suppliers are already underway.

He noted that the government has a budget of around ₱5 billion to ₱7 billion to purchase hogs.

Meanwhile, the DA is also looking into potential profiteering as a contributing factor behind the minimal compliance with the MSRP.

Currently, the market price of pork is set at ₱230. However, recent monitoring showed that there are instances when prices went up to as high as ₱290.

“Even if you tell them that this is the [MSRP], but if what they're getting is too high, they won't be able to do business,” said Palabrica.

Palabrica added that if the market price was actually followed, retailers would have no issue complying with the MSRP.

He said the agency may look into filing charges against unscrupulous traders and retailers, “as long as we have legal reason to do something about it.”