Several pork vendors are worried about their livelihood after meat dealers have advised of a possible “pork holiday” due to the implementation of the price ceiling.
The implementation of the mandated price ceiling for pork kasim or pigue at ₱270 per kilogram and ₱300 per kilogram for liempo will begin February 8.
“Sa Lunes talaga, totally, wala talagang tinda, sinabi samin… kasi lugi sila sa byahe (They told us that there will totally be no sale on Monday due to transportation losses),” Arnel Penos, a meat vendor, said.
Some meat dealers floated the possibility of a pork holiday or no sale of pork in markets if the Department of Agriculture (DA) will push through with the price cap, citing soaring cost of hogs, transportation expenses, and other fees to retailers. Transporters and pork market vendors will only be able to comply with the price ceiling if hog raisers will cut their farm gate price to ₱140.
A group of hog raisers responded that they cannot lower their prices due to the massive impact of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has already approved the creation of a task group on economic intelligence to investigate those engaged in price manipulation, hoarding, and cartel. Aside from repopulation, the minimum access volume of imported meat will also be increased to address supply shortage.
“The DA has recommended studying that the MAV be expanded just enough to cover the projected shortfall for the year. This recommendation… was approved by the President,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles stated. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
