A Department of Agriculture (DA) official said on Saturday that compliance with the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork in National Capital Region (NCR) wet markets has significantly improved two weeks after the price control measure was imposed.

In a radio interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa stated that the MSRP for pork, set at P380 per kilo for liempo and P250 per kilo for kasim and pigue, took effect on 10 March. However, pork sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets is exempt from the MSRP due to higher operating costs.

“We started on 10 March with a 6 percent compliance rate… As of the latest data, it’s now at 25 percent,” De Mesa reported.

The MSRP was introduced to address challenges in the pork industry, particularly the impact of African swine fever (ASF).

“The prevailing prices are gradually decreasing. The average price is now P360, but some markets still have it at P420… For liempo, the agreed price should be P380, but it’s still at P410 or P470 in some areas,” De Mesa explained.

He added that the DA will investigate those taking advantage of the price control, using legal measures to address abuses.

Additionally, De Mesa mentioned plans for a “Pork-For-All” program in Kadiwa outlets and select markets, where the DA will purchase pork directly from importers and traders to offer it at a lower price, similar to the “Rice-For-All” program.

The ASF outbreak has led to the loss of millions of pigs and threatened the livelihoods of farmers. In August 2024, the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry began trials for an ASF vaccine to combat the spread of the disease.