MANILA -- Officials of the Department of Agriculture inspected stalls at the Balintawak Market on the second day of the implementation of the pork maximum suggested retail price.

The officials found out that some stalls were even selling below the MSRP.

"So far natutuwa ako na sumunod sila sa ating MSRP, magandang signal ito ng pagsisimula ng pagpapatupad," said Usec. Constante Palabrica, undersecretary for livestock.

(We're happy that they are following the MSRP. This is a good signal, especially at the start of the program.)

The agency said it is confident other markets will eventually follow suit.

"Asahan mo na bababa. Market forces yan eh, kapag may nagbebenta na ng P380, bababa yan. Kasisimula pa lang naman kahapon," Palabrica said.

(We are expecting prices to come down. These are dictated by market forces. Once some retailers sell at P380, prices will go down.)

Palabrica also said the number of barangays with ASF cases was down.

"Mabilis ang repopulation ngayon, bumabagal ang pag-ikot ng ASF. Dama naman nila ang ating control system, ang ating checkpoints ay mahigpit," he said.

(We are repopulating fast. We can feel our control system, even our checkpoints are so strict.)