(MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Agriculture (DA) must step up its campaign on ensuring that sellers and suppliers comply with the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork.

This, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee cited recent reports indicating that retail prices for pork have exceeded ₱400 per kilogram, despite a decrease in farm gate prices for the commodity.

Lee stressed the need for stricter enforcement measures to protect consumers and ensure fair pricing.

"The current situation where pork prices exceed the government’s suggested retail price is unacceptable. The DA must take decisive action against those who exploit the system, causing undue burden on consumers," he said.

According to data from the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, only 20 percent of over 170 monitored stalls in Metro Manila have complied with the MSRP for pork.

The DA said that the declining farm gate prices, which have fallen from ₱250 to ₱220 per kilogram, should ideally result in lower retail prices. However, the persistent high prices suggest that intermediaries may be inflating costs.

AGRI Party-list which is running for reelection in the 2025 National and Local Elections, also underscored the importance of supporting local hog raisers, who have been adversely affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

AGRI Party-list earlier called on the DA that hog raisers should be protected from potential financial losses amid pork MSRP. It further noted that while farmgate prices have decreased, the benefits are not being passed on to consumers.

“Our local hog raisers are striving to recover from the ASF crisis. It’s disheartening to see their efforts undermined by intermediaries who prioritize profit over fairness,” it said.

AGRI Party-list proposed increasing the frequency and coverage of market inspections to ensure compliance with MSRP guidelines.

"The DA should also facilitate platforms, such as additional Kadiwa centers nationwide, where consumers can purchase pork directly from producers to liberate them from the control of unscrupulous traders and middlemen," the party-list said.

AGRI Party-list stressed that “ensuring that agricultural products are sold at fair prices is not just about regulation, it’s about safeguarding the livelihood of our farmers, fisherfolk, hog raisers and local food producers and the well-being of our consumers".