MANILA — Pork retailers welcomed the government's decision to implement a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) as pork prices continue to soar.

Maximum suggested retail price on pork to be implemented March 10

Small businesses said they have been adversely affected by high prices, with consumers shifting to alternatives like chicken.

"Mahina ang bentahan ngayon ng baboy, pangsahog-sahog na lang makatikim lang ng baboy. Meron naman namimili, yun nga lang, madalang na lang, kailangan may alternative," said Ronald Rivera, a retailer.

(Pork sales are so low, consumers buy just a few kilos.)

The Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday that it will be implementing the MSRP for pork in wet markets in Metro Manila starting Monday, March 10. The DA said pork MSRP will be P350 per kilo for kasim and pigue, and P380 per kilo for liempo. This is much lower than the current prices that go above P450 per kilo.

"Napagkasunduan din talaga na yung presyo na 400 pataas ay hindi magandang presyo, very unreasonable. Ito na ang totoong presyo na ilalabas ng lahat sa industry na ito," said Asec. Arnel de Mesa, spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture.

(Stakeholders said that selling pork at P400/kilo is not acceptable. The industry agreed that this is the reasonable price for pork.)

Even pork vendors association said market retailers are hurt by high prices.

"Dahil talagang napakataas po, kasi po mga retailers, talagang umiiyak po dyan dahil matumal po talaga. Malaki ang tinumal po ng palengke," said Manny Pareja, president of United Vendors Las Piñas Public Market.

(Retailers are suffering because sales are so low. Very few people buy pork nowadays.)

"Hindi po namin gusto yun, yung tumaas ng tumaas ang baboy. Tsaka isa pa, kami po ay dependent po sa mga consumers. Pag walang consumers na mamimili, hindi kami mabubuhay po," Pareja added.

(We don't like the high prices. We are dependent on consumers so if they will not buy, we will not live.)

The MSRP will be reviewed monthly to check if there is a need for adjustments. It was seen as effective in helping reduce rice prices.

Pork prices jumped by 12.1 percent in February, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Assistant Secretary Divina Gracia Del Prado said African swine fever continues to hurt the pork supply chain in the Philippines. She noted, however, that the MSRP may help ease pork inflation.