DA mulling MSRP for garlic, egg

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it is considering imposing another series of maximum suggested retail prices (MSRP), this time for garlic and eggs.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, however, that putting a maximum price cap for imported garlic “will have to wait as the DA remains primarily [focused] on controlling the prices of rice and pork for now.”

Tiu Laurel said that the proposal to impose an MSRP on garlic has been “under discussion,” but was placed on hold after the price per kilo of the commodity dropped to around P100, down from a peak of P160 a kilo.

That peak price, nonetheless, was double the estimated landed cost of P80 per kilo of imported garlic.

The Philippines imports around 95% of the garlic it consumes.

Tiu Laurel said the proposal for MSRP on garlic remains on standby given the current price.

"Since the price has fallen to around P100 a kilo, we had to hold back. I think the current price is reasonable given their cost of around P80," he said.

"But if prices spike again, we will definitely implement an MSRP,” he added.

Egg prices

Tiu Laurel said the Agriculture Department is also closely monitoring the prices of eggs “to ensure they don’t rise to unreasonable levels.”

He said that rising demand due to election spending and increasing chicken mortality from higher temperatures are contributing factors to the price fluctuations.

The DA chief said the agency is monitoring places where egg prices range within P6 to P8 per piece, lower than the reported P10 to P12 a piece.

“There are some who are suggesting we implement an MSRP on eggs but, as with other goods like rice and pork, we have to consult stakeholders first so as not to shock the industry,” Tiu Laurel said.

On March 31, the DA further reduced the MSRP for imported rice to P45 per kilo from P49, reflecting the global decline in rice prices.

For pork, the DA set an MSRP of P380 per kilo for liempo and P350 per kilo for kasim and pigue. —KG, GMA Integrated News