MANILA — The Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines is appealing to the government to reduce pork imports and hike tariffs in case farmgate prices of pork go down.

PPFP Chairman Nic Briones told ABS-CBN News that the group agreed with the imposition of the maximum SRP for pork but said the government must also look at importers.

"Dapat kapag bumababa na sa P200 ang farmgate price o bababa pa, dapat magbawas ng importation at saka magtaas naman ng tariff sa imported na karneng baboy. Yun ang aming ipakikiusap, para give and take," Briones said.

(Once the farmgate price goes down to P200/kilo, the government must reduce imports or hike tariffs. That's what we're asking for. It should be give and take.)

Pork producers in the Philippines are still grappling with African Swine Fever and are still trying to recover. However, with the imposition of MSRP, they would have to bring down the farmgate prices of pork.

"Sana naman bago nyo inuna ang producers ng karneng baboy, inuna nyo muna yung mga imported na karneng baboy. Dapat yun ang inuna kasi napakamura ng kuha ng importer," he added.

(We hope that you also focus on imported pork. Importers get pork for a very low price.)

On the first day of the implementation of MSRP, retailers in Quezon City followed the measure. They reduced retail prices by as much as P40/kilo to comply with the measure.

"Bumaba na rin naman ang bigay sa amin ng supplier, kaya makaka-ano na rin na magbaba ng presyo para sa mga mamimili, sa presyo ng baboy, ok na, medyo bumababa na sya, hindi na ganon kataas," said Benjie Mangaring, a pork vendor.

(The prices from suppliers have also gone down. So it's okay for us to bring them down.)