Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Wednesday that a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for selected pork cuts will be enforced starting Friday. This decision aligns with the DA's plan to temporarily ban imports of live hogs and pork products from Spain, which is currently the second-largest source of pork for the country, due to reports of an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.

According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. mentioned in an interview that the department is finalizing pricing measures to maintain stable retail prices during the holiday season. Tiu Laurel detailed that the MSRP would be set at PHP370 per kg for pork liempo (pork belly) and PHP350 per kg for pigue (ham) and kasim (shoulder).

Regarding the planned suspension of imports from Spain, Tiu Laurel specified that products processed on or after November 11 would be banned unless certified as ASF-free. He expressed confidence that despite a potential slight increase in demand, pork prices would remain affordable during the Christmas season. The ban is not expected to impact local supply, as cold storage facilities are well-stocked and market prices have been stable.

The DA's monitoring as of December 1 indicated that pork ham in Metro Manila is being sold at PHP270 to PHP390 per kg, while pork belly ranges from PHP320 to PHP470 per kg. In addition to pork, the DA will also enforce an MSRP of PHP120 per kg for imported carrots starting Friday.