LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Ilocos Sur provincial government has set a price cap on the sale of hogs and pork in the province, according to an executive order issued by Governor Jeremias “Jerry” Singson.
Singson said in Executive Order (EO) No. 43, which was signed on Oct. 13, that the local government was following a recommendation by the provincial price coordinating council (PPCC) to impose a 60-day freeze on the “farmgate floor price of hog and ceiling price of lean pork.”
The EO sets a mandated floor price for the farmgate price of hog at P200 a kilo and ceiling price of lean pork at P300 a kilo.
Imposed in the entire province, the order was meant to allow hog raisers to recover and earn amid the rise of food prices, and to help them mitigate their economic losses, according to Singson.
Singson also said that hog raisers in the province were still reeling from the impact of African swine fever which hit the province in November last year, and the high cost of production and farm inputs.
The order was also seen to fix an “imbalance” which was driving the increase in pork prices that was “slowly being [passed] through to consumers,” said Singson.
“It is imperative and urgent to ensure the basic necessities are adequate, affordable, and accessible to all,” the governor added.
Singson ordered all local government units in the province to ensure that the EO is strictly implemented.