Manila, April 19 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said it is now looking into surging pork prices, with some exceeding PHP400 per kg.

"Ito iyong tinututukan natin dahil iyong presyo ng ating farmgate hindi naman ganun kataas, nasa (That's what we are focusing into now because our farmgate price is not that high, it's just) a little over PHP200/kg.," Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

Although the farmgate price slightly increased from PHP198 last week, de Mesa said the retail prices should only hit the benchmark.

"So, kung dadagdagan natin ito ng PHP100, ito kasi iyong ating benchmark. So, dapat nasa mga (if we'll add PHP100 because that's our benchmark. So, it shoul...