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Christine Boton - The Philippine Star
December 6, 2025 | 12:00am
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel with representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) make their rounds at stalls inside the Mega Q Mart in Quezon City on December 5, 2025 as part of their price and supply monitoring of various commodities.
Miguel De Guzman / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to curb rising retail costs ahead of the peak Christmas demand, the Department of Agriculture imposed a maximum suggested retail price or MSRP on pork belly (liempo), shoulder (kasim) and butt (pigue) in Metro Manila starting yesterday, the DA announced.
Under the administrative circular, the price for pork belly is capped at P370 per kilo.
It also ordered that shoulder and butt parts must not exceed P330 per kilo in both public and private wet markets across the National Capital Region.
The DA said the MSRP not only protects consumers, but also allows fair returns for industry players.
“We have to restore some sanity in the retail price of pork, a favorite protein source among Filipinos that is in high demand especially during the Christmas season,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.
He noted that the pricing levels were finalized following consultations with meat retailers and other stakeholders in the pork supply chain.
According to the DA agribusiness marketing and assistance service, retail pork prices surged to abnormal levels in recent weeks, with the belly reaching P480 per kilo in early November, raising concerns among consumers preparing for the holidays.
“Those prices are absurd given how farm-gate prices have fallen recently, threatening the viability of small and medium-sized hog raisers,” Tiu Laurel said.
Earlier, the DA secured an agreement with hog producers to set a minimum farm-gate price of P210 per kilo to prevent further losses among backyard and commercial raisers after a period of depressed buying prices.
Tiu Laurel said DA Undersecretary for livestock Dante Palabrica recommended the MSRPs following a supply-and-demand study indicating that local pork production is sufficient to support Metro Manila’s requirements.
The findings were affirmed during a Nov. 22 online consultation with industry stakeholders, wherein concerns over expected holiday price volatility were raised.
Invoking its authority to issue suggested retail prices for essential food items, the DA said the MSRP order takes effect immediately and will remain in place unless amended or revoked.
The DA said the move is intended to stabilize a key holiday staple for both consumers and producers.
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