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Some vendors resume selling pork a day after Palace appeal
A few vendors in Metro Manila resumed selling fresh pork and dressed chicken on Tuesday, a day after they went on "holiday" as the government imposed a price ceiling on their products.
This also came a day after Malacañang made an appeal
to the vendors to sell pork and dressed chicken again after supply ran out in many markets in the National Capital Region (NCR).Trabajo Market
At Trabajo Market in Sampaloc, Manila, the few vendors who were seen selling the said products followed the price ceiling: P270 per kilo for kasim and pigue, and P300 per kilo for liempo, according to a report by Jonathan Andal on GMA News' Unang Balita.
One vendor said he decided to sell to see first if he will still earn money given the low price ceiling.
"Titingnan pa lang po namin. Susubukan namin kung may kita sa suggested retail price na hinihingi ng gobyerno," vendor Rick said.
"Para may pambili ng pagkain, sir," vendor Joel said.
The government earlier said it will assume the delivery cost to NCR of hogs from other regions in the country free from African swine fever, to augment local supply.
"Sabi ng Malacañang, bibigyan ng galing Mindanao. Sana nga mayroon. Puwede naman kaming magtinda basta 'yung nagsu-supply sa amin kaya namin ibigay sa gusto nilang price, P270, P300 [per kilo]," said vendor Jennylyn Sacidor, who was not among those who resumed selling on Tuesday.
At Trabajo Market, prices of frozen pork were as follows: P300 per kilo for liempo, P290 per kilo for kasim, and P180 per kilo for batok.
Meanwhile, fresh dressed chicken in the market was selling above the price ceiling at P190 per kilo for whole chicken and P200 per kilo for choice cuts.
Paco Market
At the Paco Market in Manila, vendors who resumed selling followed the price ceiling.
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Kamuning Market
Meanwhile, at the Kamuning Market in Quezon City, no vendor was selling fresh pork meat and dressed chicken on Tuesday, according to a report by James Agustin on Unang Balita.
More than 50 vendors usually sell fresh pork meat and dressed chicken in this market starting at 2 a.m., but their stalls were closed on Tuesday.
"Mataas ang kuha namin. Hindi naman namin puwede ibigay ng mababang presyo. Lugi naman kami. Trucking pa namin," said meat trader Rafael Ocbeña.
Customers had no choice but buy fish and vegetables instead.
The lack of pork supply has affected the price of tokwa't baboy at one stall in Monumento, Caloocan City. From P35 per serving, the price of the dish went up to P40.
Prices of pork and chicken in Metro Manila wet markets shot up to as much as P420 per kilo for liempo, and P400 per kilo for pigue and kasim last month as supply ran low due to the African swine fever.
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the price ceiling imposed in Metro Manila for 60 days starting Monday, Feb. 8, upon the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture. —KG, GMA News