Malacañang has appealed to pork traders to reconsider their "pork holiday" protest against the price ceiling on the meat products for the sake of consumers.

The government hopes the pork retailers will continue to sell their products as it offered transport subsidy and financial aid to local vendors, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

"Nabalitaan natin na may dalawang grupo na nagdeklara ng pork holiday. Sa parte ng nagtitinda, sila daw po ay hindi nagtitinda dahil napakababa daw ng price ceiling (We heard there are two groups that declared a pork holiday. On the part of the retailers, they will not sell products because the price ceiling is too low)," Roque said during televised press briefing Monday, Feb. 8.

"Nakikiusap kami sa ating nagtitinda sana ipagpagtuloy ninyo ang pagtitinda ng baboy (We appeal to the retailers to continue to sell their pork products),” he said.

As some pork retailers plan to protest the price cap, the Palace has also backed the proposed consumption of meat alternatives.

"Sa parte ng mga consumers, mayroon silang advocacy na kumain tayo ng alternative protein sources. Sinusuportahan natin ang advocacy na alternative pork sources (On the part of consumers, they have an advocacy to consume alternative protein sources. We support the advocacy of alternative pork sources)," Roque said.

President Duterte recently ordered the imposition of a 60-day price ceiling on select pork and chicken products in Metro Manila after prices surged due to a supply shortage caused by the African Swine Fever outbreak.

Under Executive Order No. 124, the government set the price ceilings of P270 per kilogram for kasim/ pigue, P300 per kilo for liempo, and P160 a kilo for dressed chicken. The implementation of the price cap is set to begin on Feb. 8.

Some pork retailers however reportedly intend to stop selling their products during the 60-day price ceiling period to avoid losses.

Roque said the government has started to take measures to boost pork supply in the market and stabilize the cost of the meat product.  

Before resorting to increased pork importation, he said they have pushed for the increased shipment of hogs from Visayas and Mindanao to Luzon to bolster supply in the market.

A local swine producer from South Cotabato has already committed to supply 10,000 hogs every week for Metro Manila, he said.

"Gobyerno na ang mag-aangkat niyan at gobyerno na rin ang magpapakalat sa merkado. So hindi naman tayo magkukulang at ang presyo ng baboy na inaangkat sa South Cotabato ay nasa P145 per kilo (The government will ship these products and distribute them in the market so we won't be short of supply. The price of hog from South Cotabato is around P145 per kilo)," he said.

Also, the government has provided subsidy in the transport cost of hog shipments coming from other parts of the country.  He said they will provide P21 per kilo for hogs coming from Mindanao, P15 per kilo from Visayas, and P10 per kilo from those coming from ASF-free areas in Luzon.

Financial or loan assistance is also being given to vendors of pork products, according to Roque.

If the local supply won't be enough, Roque said the government could also allow the importation of more pork products but this would be "a matter of last recourse."