Malacañang on Monday called on Metro Manila vendors who went on “pork holiday” to resume selling pork and poultry products amid the implementation of price cap by the government.
“May mga grupo na nag-declare ng pork holiday, meron rin pong nanawagan ng pagkain ng alternative protein sources. Sinusuportahan po natin iyong panawagan for consuming alternative protein sources, pero nakikiusap po kami sa mga nagtitinda ng baboy na ipagpatuloy niyo po ang pagtitinda,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing.
Many meat vendors in Metro Manila wet markets went on a “pork holiday” due to the price cap imposed by the government starting today, resulting in a low of supply pork and dressed chicken in the capital region.
Roque said the government will get pork supplies from areas that are not affected by African Swine Fever. He noted that South Cotabato-based culling groups can supply 10,000 heads of hogs every week for Metro Manila alone.
“Gobyerno na po ang magpapakalat nito sa merkado,” Roque said.
Roque added the farmgate price of pork would be at P145 per kilo, and that the transportation subsidy for pork supply coming from Mindanao, Visayas, and provinces in Luzon will be at P21, P15, and 10, respectively.
Also read: Supply of pork in Metro Manila enough – DA
Vendors who went on ‘pork holiday’ urged to resume selling
According to vendors, they will just lose money if they will continue to sell pork and dressed chicken at the price ceiling set by the government because traders also give the supplies to them at high prices.
The price cap is P300 per kilo for liempo, P270 per kilo for kasim and pigue, and P160 per kilo for dressed chicken. These prices are imposed for 60 days.
Meanwhile, some consumers were forced to buy frozen pork meat at P290 per kilo.
“Sinabi naman po ng economists na makakapaekto sa supply ang price cap, pero 10,000 a week ang manggagaling sa South Cotabato alone, at inaayos rin po ng DAang ibang panggagalingan ng supply,” Roque said.
“Anticipated naman po natin ‘yan (pork holiday), pero kinakailangan pong gawin po ‘yan (price cap),” he added.