DA mulls SRP for pork as prices soar

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering implementing a maximum suggested retail price (SRP) for pork due to current retail prices reaching as high as P480 per kilo, which is significantly higher than the P345 to P420 per kilo for pork shoulder and P380 to P480 per kilo for pork belly observed in Metro Manila markets.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa stated that while a specific date for the SRP implementation has not been set, it is crucial to address the issue as farmgate prices only range from P220 to P240 per kilo.

De Mesa pointed out that with added costs, the retail price should ideally be between P350 and P380 per kilo, highlighting a discrepancy where prices are currently reported between P450 and P480 per kilo.

Hog raisers have reportedly recovered from the impact of African swine fever that affected farms in the third quarter of 2024.