MANILA - Compliance on maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork remains low, the Department of Agriculture said on Monday.

Maximum suggested retail price on pork to be implemented March 10

Agriculture officials held a market visit at the Marikina Public Market on Monday, also the first working day after the Holy Week break.

"May mga retailer tayo na nakikita na hindi pa rin po makasunod sa MSRP na P350 for kasim at pigue at P380 for liempo. Pero dito nakita natin na may difference price ng biyahero na retailer din at 'yung purely retailer lang," said Asec. Genevieve Guevarra, who handles the agency's consumer affairs.

(We saw retailers who are not able to follow the pork MSRP, which is P350-P380 per kilo. But here, we can see the price difference between the pure retailers and the transporters who are also retailers.)

Price increments in the logistical chain continue to be a challenge in tempering pork prices, after the MSRP was implemented in March.

"P250-P255 pa rin ang lumalabas na farmgate price, may in between pa 'yon na mga ahente, kasi sinasabi nila na hindi lumalabas na steady ang supply natin," Guevarra added.

Retailers say OK with maximum suggested retail price for pork

(Farmgate price remain at P250-255, and there are still price adjustments within agents as they say pork supply is not stable.)

Per latest data, only 25 percent or 1 in every 4 pork retailer in the National Capital Region can follow the MSRP.

Guevarra said they have visited more than 10 markets, and low compliance was very evident. They said they will be releasing letters to traders soon to get formal explanation and show that they are serious with its implementation. However, retailers say that they are not even making enough profit.

"Nakakalungkot kasi ganon bigay samin sobrang taas, kawawa naman mga dealer gaya namin na nagtitiis," said Ednalyn Ramos, a pork retailer.

(It's sad because we don't make profit at all. We just bear with the high prices from the farms.)

Retailers say they have been informed that supply of pork is quite unstable right now, as the hog industry has not fully recovered from the African Swine Fever problem that has plagued them for years.

"Wala daw talagang baboy na nakukuha sa Batangas, di na kami makahakot, ilang linggo na, sa Tarlac na kami kumukuha," Ramos added.

(Our suppliers said there are no supply from Batangas. We have been sourcing pork from Tarlac for several weeks already.)

Meanwhile, SINAG Executive Director Jayson Cainglet argues that more than 90% of hog raisers have been following the agreed P230/kilo live weight price from the farms.

"Kahit lugi ang maraming backyard farms, sumusunod pa rin sila sa napag usapan," Cainglet said.

(Backyard farms follow the agreement on pricing even if they are losing money.)

"Mas madali kasi sisihin ang hog raisers sa hindi pa rin pagbaba ng presyo ng baboy, despite BAI record of 93 percent compliance of the local livestock industry," Cainglet added.

(It's easier to blame the hog raisers for the price of pork, even if data shows hog raisers are compliant.)