In the face of the imminent implementation of the price ceiling on pork prices, some vendors and traders think it is better for them to stop selling and raising pigs for now.
The price ceiling or the limit price of meats such as pork and chicken is set to be implemented, in the face of high prices caused by the effects of African swine fever.
Currently, the price of kasim and buttocks is between P330 to P360 per kilo, while the liempo in the markets in Metro Manila is P370 to P400 per kilo.
But for some vendors, like Lorna Ramil, it is better for them to close than to sell at a discounted price ceiling.
“Di na lang magtitinda kasi magtinda ka, palugi. ‘Pag nahuli ka pang ano, iho-hold ka pa nila o pagmumultahin ka pa. Eh ‘di magsara ka na lang. Bahala na magugutom, eh ‘yun naman ‘ata ang gusto ng gobyerno natin eh, ang magutom ang mga Pilipino,” said Ramil.
They insist the problem is not with them but with the traders.
“Dapat ang unahin ng gobyerno ‘yung pinagkukuhanan ng karne ng baboy, wala pong problema sa amin. Wala tayong magagawa kung ‘yun ang gusto nila pero paano naman kaming maliliit na negosyante?” according to vendor Florante Piniero.
But groups of traders blame the hog raisers.
According to the Manila Meat Dealers Association, hog raisers need to lower the farmgate price from P140 to P160 from the current P190 to P220 per kilo.
Some hog raisers, vendors close stores; refuse to follow price ceiling
This is to pull the price they give to retailers.
If the farmgate price is also expensive, it is possible that they will not deliver pigs because there will be no seller to buy from them.
“Kung magkano nila ibibgay ‘yung farmgate nila na presyo, kung kaya naming kunin, kukunin namin. Itong mga hog raiser eh sinamantala nila ‘yung kakapusan ng baboy. Sobra silang nagtaas ng mga presyo nila,” said Ricardo Chan of Manila Meat Dealers Association.
The pig farmers complained and said they could not afford to lower the farmgate price at a loss.
They also threatened to stop taking care of pigs if they continued to be squeezed to lower prices.
The Department of Agriculture, on the other hand, insisted that the price ceiling is the solution to lower the price of pork in the market.