The decision on whether to set the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork may be known by the end of February, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.
At the Palace press briefing, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said they need another two-week timeline to identify the reason behind the spiking prices of retail pork.
“If we have identified na may (that there’s) profiteering, then definitely, we will be doing an MSRP also for pork,” he said.
Tiu Laurel said the farmgate prices of pork remain at a PHP240 per kilogram to PHP250/kg-level, making some in the retail prices “unreasonable.”
“Bakit mayroong PHP380 to PHP420 sa palengke? So, hinahanap ko saan napunta iyong isang daang piso na gap na nakikita ko (Why is there a PHP380 to PHP420-level in markets. So, I’m looking into the PHP100 gap that I’m seeing). We’re currently studying that and digging deep doon sa (on the) whole value chain ng (of) pork,” he said. “Anything above PHP400 is unreasonable.”
He, however, refrained from giving a possible MSRP range, citing the need to determine a reasonable profit margin across the value chain.
“I want to be fair to everybody. I want to consult everybody, pati retailer at mapakinggan natin lahat ng (and listen to all our) stakeholders,” Tiu Laurel said.
As of Feb. 6, the prices of pork kasim (ham) in Metro Manila range from PHP345/kg to PHP420/kg, while pork liempo (belly) range from PHP380/kg to PHP480/kg, according to the DA Bantay Presyo. (PNA)
