MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang assured on Thursday that a price cap on pork and chicken is already “forthcoming” after workers lamented the runaway cost of food items amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s, I think, forthcoming. Pero hindi ko pa po nakikita ang pirmadong (But I have not yet seen the signed) EO [executive order],” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said when asked of the status of the price cap on pork and chicken.
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Metro Manila mayors recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to impose a price freeze on items like pork, chicken, fish and vegetables.
The DA recommended a price ceiling of P270 per kilogram for kasim pigue, P300 a kilo for liempo, and P160 a kilo for dressed chicken.
These food items are being sold for P400 per kilo for pork and P170 per kilo for chicken.
Minimum wage earners have decried these skyrocketing prices and called on the government to bring down the cost at “reasonable levels.”