According to the agency, a big chunk of the supply comes from the locally produced rice, and production of farmers will be enough to meet the demand towards the end of the year.
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to implement the maximum suggested retail price (SRP) for pork this March, in response to the rising cost of pork.
Data from DA Bantay Presyo shows that some pork cuts are being sold for P480 per kilo in certain wet markets in Metro Manila.
Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa stated that consultations with stakeholders will be finalized this week to ensure the maximum SRP is implemented this month.
While the final figure for the MSRP has not yet been announced, officials have indicated that it will be below P400.
“If your farmgate price is P250, then the profit margin mentioned is 100 to 100 plus. So P380 is reasonable. The Secretary already said that anything above 400 is a bit excessive,” according to De Mesa.
The department previously set the ‘maximum SRP’ or ‘MSRP’ for rice, which is regularly lowered to influence prevailing market prices.
The maximum suggested retail price for imported rice has been lowered to P52/kilo starting February 15.
This is in line with the Department of Agriculture’s plans to gradually lower the MSRP while giving retailers time to finish their fold stock.
This is the second time that the MSRP for imported rice has been lowered. It was previously P58/kilo, and then lowered to P55/kilo in early February.
DA Agriculture Spokesperson Arnel de Mesa also said that next month, March, it will be lowered further to P49/kilo.
“That’s why we’re setting an MSRP for compliance. And that’s why there’s a study first and then consultations follow so that everyone is aware of the steps being taken and so that before the MSRP is even laid out. So the likelihood of compliance is high,” said De Mesa.
“The same strategy that was used with rice. We know that the price should only be this much so when we lay out the MSRP, they will follow and we will avoid excessive profits or excessive price increases,” he added.
The department is considering the direct sale of cheaper pork, similar to the Rice for All program.
“Similar to rice where we introduced Rice for All, we are also looking into the possibility that DA can also intervene there,” he continued.
