Officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) jointly inspected the Balintawak Clover Market on March 11, 2025, one day after the enforcement of the Maximum Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for pork in Metro Manila.
DA Undersecretary for Livestock Constante J. Palabrica led the inspection together with Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra, Assistant Secretary for High Value Crops,Sagip Saka, Intellectual Property, and DA Deputy Spokesperson Joycel R. Panlilio, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service Director Junibert E. De Sagun, FTI President Joseph Rudolph Lo, and officials from the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB).
Undersecretary Palabrica expressed his satisfaction of pork retailers’ compliance with the set MSRP, noting that pork prices in the markets were even lower than the suggested rate.
“Natutuwa ako na sumunod sa MSRP ang mga tindahan. Ang itinalaga natin na MSRP sa liempo ay P380, sa pigue at kasim ay P350, at may nakikita tayo na may bumababa pa dito ng P330 hanggang sa P340. Ang sinabi natin na presyo dapat ng sabit ulo ay P300, pero may nakita pa ako na P295. Magandang senyales ito ng pagsisimula,” Usec. Palabrica said.
Balintawak Market, known as a major trading hub for various agricultural products, is accessible through key routes connecting Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Metro Manila.
Palabrica added that while the low meat prices in Balintawak are expected since it serves as a major trading hub, “we anticipate that this will encourage other markets in Metro Manila to follow suit. We will continue monitoring pork prices in the market as we will meet again next month with pork ‘viajeros’ to reassess the prices and determine whether the set rates will continue or be adjusted.”
Moreover, Usec. Palabrica said that the Department is still discussing the possible legal actions against those who fail to comply with the MSRP. For now, the priority is to engage with various pork stakeholders to further bring down pork prices and ensure supply in the country. He stated that the next target is to extend support to supermarkets to ensure fair pricing and a stable supply.
“Itong MSRP natin ay para dito lang muna sa wet market, pagdating sa supermarket, hindi natin nilagyan ng MSRP dahil base sa computation namin ay napakalaki ng overhead expenses—air condition, freezer, tao, lahat—pero darating rin na iyan ay bababa rin. Hindi naman namin pababayaan na umakyat ito, pero, meron kaming prosesong ginagawa para dito,” Usec. Palabrica said.
Previously, the DA announced the MSRP for pork: P380 per kilogram for liempo (pork belly), P350 per kilogram for kasim (shoulder) and pigue (leg), and P300 per kilogram for “sabit ulo,” or the price at which traders sell pork to retailers.
Meanwhile, the prices of some agricultural products have already decreased, as also observed in the market, including tomatoes. At the said market, the retail price of tomatoes is P15 per kilogram, while the wholesale price is P13 per kilogram.
According to Asec. Guevarra, the government has lined up several interventions to support tomato farmers.
“May mga interventions tayo ngayon. May mga farmers group na lumalapit sa ating regional offices, at ang ginagawa natin ngayon ay mina-market link natin sila—market linkages with direct buyers and wholesalers. Alam naman natin na medyo perishable ang kamatis, kaya kailangan na madispose natin ito as soon as possible in larger quantities,” Asec. Guevarra said.
The DA officials also inspected prices of spices, as well as lowland and highland vegetables. ### (Kristel Joyce L. Merle, DA-AFID)
