The Department of Agriculture (DA) is monitoring products subject to the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), which will be implemented for onions and pork.

In a radio interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said the agency has begun issuing notices, referred to as “love letters,” to vendors, particularly onion sellers, who were found charging prices above the MSRP.

For imported red onions, the MSRP is Php 150, while some vendors sell them at around 200 pesos. White imported onions, which retail for Php 120, generally comply with the MSRP.

Notices of MSRP have also been handed out for pork, though not as frequently as for red onions. Some vendors sold pork Php 20 to 30 higher than the MSRP. Guevarra said vendors often follow the MSRP of Php 370 for pork belly and Php 330 for kasim/pigue when the buyer is a regular customer or purchasing in bulk, but notices were still issued.

“Some vendors say that sales are slow right now. They claim that not much has been sold in the markets. They also say that raising prices is their way of making up for the low number of buyers,” he said.

According to Guevarra, price increases are common in past years as Christmas approaches. Vendors explain they raise prices intentionally to recover losses from slow sales during the holidays.

“Based on our experience in previous years, we have seen a slight increase [as Christmas and New Year approach]. It seems to be the trend now that consumers, when Noche Buena comes, no longer cook and instead buy prepared food,” he said.

Current prices for key items include beef at Php 400–500 per kilo, galunggong at Php 280–330, bangus at Php 250, and tilapia at Php 150–200. Prices usually decline once the fishing season resumes. Carrots, which have an MSRP of Php 120, are now being sold for Php 90–100 per kilo due to ample supply.

“Selling goods above the prevailing market rate may be considered profiteering,” he explained.