DA Eyes ‘Pork-For-All’ Program to Lower Prices

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering a “Pork-For-All” program to make pork more affordable amid rising prices in markets.

Similar to the “Rice-For-All” initiative, the DA plans to buy pork directly from importers and traders and sell it at lower prices through Kadiwa outlets and select markets.

Current Pork Prices in Metro Manila

📌 Pork (per kilo): ₱350 – ₱420
📌 Liempo (per kilo): ₱380 – ₱480

According to Rosendo So, president of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), the farmgate price of pork is between ₱240 to ₱250 per kilo, yet retail prices have surged to ₱400 per kilo. He suggests imposing a Maximum Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) to correct this price gap.

What’s Driving the Price Hike?

The African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in 2024 affected pork supply from January to May. However, imports have stabilized supply, making it unclear why prices remain high.

The DA is now investigating whether traders or sellers are inflating prices.

“We will conduct further consultations this week to determine the issue and consider implementing an MSRP,” said DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa.

Onion Prices Also on the Rise

📌 Current onion prices: ₱140 – ₱240 per kilo
📌 Litex Market price: ₱220 per kilo

Despite the surge, onion prices are expected to drop soon due to ongoing harvests and imports.

The DA is set to finalize its pork pricing study by the end of February, with possible MSRP implementation by March.