DA seeks cost review to lower pork prices

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that pork producers, traders, and retailers agreed to review their cost structures ahead of any potential imposition of a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork in March.

The DA aims to prevent excessive profiteering and ensure reasonable prices after consulting with various stakeholders including officials from the agriculture industry, pork producers, retailers, importers, and commuters.

DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., noted that traders likely add P80 per kilo to the price of pork, while a farmgate price is set at P250 per kilo, making a reasonable retail price around P380.

The DA will not impose an MSRP in the next two weeks pending further consultations with industry stakeholders and has called for a review of cost structures to lower retail pork prices without issuing an MSRP.

Imported frozen pork is currently priced around P250 per kilo, while domestic pork fetches over P400 per kilo, leading to a decline in sales volume due to high prices.