Students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) have launched a donation drive for Altura vendors who have been affected by the imposition of price caps on pork and chicken.
"Para sa may Altura lang!" is a collaboration between Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag, an alliance of students publications in PUP and Tulong Kabataan - Sta. Mesa.
Collected donations will be directly sent to Altura Market in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
"Sa Altura Market, ramdam ng mga manininda ang mga epekto ng krisis, nariyan ang kahirapan sa pagtitinda at hindi nakakasapat ang kanilang kinikita para sa kanilang pamilya (In Altura Market, vendors feel the effects of the crisis, low pork sales, and not enough income for their family)," its statement read.
"Mayroon pang pagkakataong hindi na rin sumasapat ang kanilang kita sa ibinabayad nila sa kanilang mga pwesto (There's a time where they cannot pay they rent in the market because their income is not enough)," it further read.
In February, President Duterte approved an executive order (EO) setting a price ceiling on pork and chicken.
The EO No. 24 imposed the following price range limits for 60 days:
- Pork - P270 per kilo
- Pork liempo - P300 per kilo
- Dressed chicken - P160 per kilo
The EO was proposed by the Department of Agriculture as pork prices soared to as high as P450 per kilo in January.
The local hog industry has struggled due to the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF) as it significantly affected the supply and prices of pork in the market.