Sen Marcos questions sudden spike in pork prices

"Filipinos aren't going hungry because there's no food; we're going hungry because of greed!" This was the strong statement of Senator Imee R. Marcos as she criticized the continued surge in pork prices in the market.

Pork prices in wet markets now range from P375 to P426 per kilo, causing both financial headaches for many Filipinos. Marcos condemned the price manipulation by some traders, pointing out that they buy pork from farmers at a farmgate price of only P200 to P220 per kilo. Because of this, the senator supports the Department of Agriculture's (DA) plan to impose a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) – not just on retail prices but also on farmgate and trader prices.

The senator slammed the ongoing pork price crisis, saying, "SRPs usually only affect retailers. Traders refuse to lower their profit margins, so it's always the producers and retailers who are forced to adjust just to meet the SRP. This is unfair! A handful of traders shouldn't have control over prices."

Senator Marcos also urged the DA to revive the Price and Volume Watch to monitor all levels of the pork value chain and prevent price surges.

"With proper coordination between the DA, DTI, LGUs, and LPCC, we can monitor pork prices and ensure market stability. The mandate of the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) should also be reviewed to guarantee affordable prices in the market and protect consumers and small businesses," Marcos emphasized.