Palace still studying extending pork, chicken price caps in NCR

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is still deliberating whether to extend the price ceiling on pork and chicken products in Metro Manila, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken in the National Capital Region in February to rein in the products’ skyrocketing costs.

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

“Pinag-aaralan pa po ‘yan,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

(This is an ongoing study.)

Metro Manila has been addressing a pork supply shortage caused by the spread of African swine fever (ASF).

President Rodrigo Duterte has proposed raising the minimum amount of pork that could be imported under the minimum access volume to counter the declining supply (MAV).

READ: Duterte favors increase in MAV for pork imports by 350,000 MT

According to Roque, the real solution to the pork shortage is to import pigs and then repopulate the hog populations that have been impacted by ASF.

To ensure an adequate supply of pork, the DA proposed declaring a state of national emergency to halt the spread of ASF through biosecurity measures and funding.

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