Duterte order on price cap on chicken, pork ‘forthcoming’ —Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said it expects President Rodrigo Duterte to order a price cap on chicken and pork soon.

“It’s, I think, forthcoming, pero hindi ko pa po nakikita iyong pirmadong EO [executive order] itself,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference.

The Department of Agriculture earlier urged Duterte to impose a price freeze on these food items:  P270 per kilo for kasim and pigue, P300 per kilo for liempo, and P160 per kilo for chicken meat.

Should it be approved, the proposed price ceiling will be implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR) for a duration of another 60 days.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Tuesday blamed unscrupulous traders and wholesalers for the spike in pork prices amid the African swine fever outbreak.

Dar also said there is no food crisis as he warned those floating such an idea to substantiate their claims or face possible investigation for colluding with traders in order to cause panic among consumers. — BM, GMA News