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Duterte orders 60-day price cap on pork, chicken to curb rising costs
Duterte orders 60-day price cap on pork, chicken to curb rising costs
President Duterte has ordered the imposition of a price ceiling on select pork and chicken products in Metro Manila for 60 days in a bid to curb a further spike in the cost of these meat products.
(SIMEON CELI / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
An executive order authorizing the price cap on chicken and pork products sold in Metro Manila has been signed by the President on Feb. 1, according to Senator Christopher Go.
Under EO 124 released by the Palace, there will be a mandated price ceiling of P270 per kilogram for kasim and pigue, P300 per kilogram for liempo, and P160 per kilogram for dressed chicken.
"The current retail prices of basic necessities in the National Capital Region such as pork and chicken have increased significantly, causing undue burden to Filipinos, especially the underprivileged and marginalized," the order read.
"It is imperative and urgent to ensure that basic necessities are adequate, affordable and accessible to all," it added.
The President's order noted that the country's reduced pork output due to the outbreak of the African Swine Fever has significantly affected the supply and prices of pork in the market.
The latest EO on the mandated price ceiling on certain food products takes effect immediately. It will remain in full force and effect for 60 days unless extended by the President.
The Department of Agriculture earlier recommended to the President to impose the 60-day price ceiling of pork and chicken products in the National Capital Region to address the rising food prices.
Under Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act, the President may impose a price ceiling of any basic necessity or prime commodity during the existence or effect of an emergency or calamity, or any event that causes artificial and unreasonable increase in the price of such commodity.
According to Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the proposed price ceiling would prevent the further spike in the retail prices of pork and chicken.
Dar has also warned unscrupulous traders against taking advantage of the tight supply of hogs and unreasonably raising prices of such items. A sub-task group has been activated to guard against any manipulation of supply and prices of food products at the expense of consumers.
The department earlier recognized there has been a limited supply of hogs in Central Luzon due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) since the early part of 2019. Dar alleged that some traders and wholesalers were causing the spike in the prices of pork.
"They are making a large profit margin of more than P200 per kilo, between the farmgate price of live hogs and the retail price of pork in public markets," he said during a recent public briefing on state television.