Manila, June 16 -- There will be no maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for local pork while the hog industry is still under its repopulation efforts because of African swine fever (ASF) in the country, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Monday.

This came a month after DA's May 15 lifting of the pork MSRP upon the requests of pork industries to be given time for to recover.

The MSRP for local pork is set at PHP380 per kilogram for "liempo" (belly); PHP350/kg for "kasim" (ham) and pigue; and PHP300/kg for "sabit-ulo".

In a media interview, Tiu Laurel said an MSRP cannot be implemented considering the "short supply" of local pork.

Tiu Laurel, however, said the current elevated retail prices may be tamed once cheaper o...