Duterte orders 60-day pork, chicken price cap in NCR

Update

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Dutere has an executive order (EO) that imposes a 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken products in Metro Manila, Malacañang confirmed Monday.

Under EO No. 124, the price ceiling for a kilogram of kasim and pigue is at P270, 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.

Senator Bong Go commended the President for the issuance of the EO No. 124 to curb the skyrocketing cost of pork and chicken products.

“Kinokomendahan ko po ang pag-issue ng Pangulo ng EO na ito upang itigil ang tuluy-tuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain. Kailangan natin itong solusyonan lalong-lalo na sa panahon ngayon na marami pong mga kababayan natin ang nawalan ng trabaho,” Go said in a statement.

FILE PHOTO/GRIG MONTEGRANDE

(I commend the President for issuing this EO to stop the continuous hike in food prices. We need to solve this, especially since many of our countrymen lost their jobs.)

Under the EO, the price ceiling will remain in full force and effect for 60 days, unless extended by President Duterte upon the DA’s recommendation, Go said.

Go said that according to the Office of the Executive Secretary, the price ceiling will not result in “undue diminution” of meat traders’ expected income since the reduction rates are not greater than 25% of the prevailing market price.

He added that the break-even point for selling pork is only around P105.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Metro Manila mayors earlier recommended that the President impose a price freeze on items like pork, chicken, fish, and vegetables.

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