DA plans to restore pork MSRP by July or Aug

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced plans to restore the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork by July or August, in response to rising prices and a request from industry players who struggled with compliance.

On May 15, the DA lifted the MSRP as African Swine Fever cases surged, but now aims to reintroduce it once infrastructure is set up at Metro Manila public markets.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that pork will be available at a cheaper price by late July or early August, addressing high prices in parts of Metro Manila and ensuring retailers still earn profits.

The Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) is working to reduce middlemen and directly buy from farms, aiming to cut costs for consumers while FTI acts as the 'middleman' between the farm and retailers.

FTI has been testing this strategy for a month and is requesting PHP500 million in standby funds from the Office of the President for a larger rollout.