QC gov’t waives rental fees of meat retailers amid price cap in public markets

The Quezon City government on Wednesday said it will waive the rental fees in public markets of meat retailers affected by the price ceiling imposed on pork and chicken.

In a statement on Wednesday, the city government said Mayor Joy Belmonte came up with the decision after inspecting Commonwealth Market and Mega Q Mart together with other government officials.

“We have decided to waive their rental fees to help them cope with the current crisis, and we enjoin our private markets to do the same,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte directed the Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD) to coordinate with vendors for more assistance while they wait for the subsidy from the Department of Agriculture.

On February 1, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the imposition of a price cap on pork and chicken for 60 days in the National Capital Region, which became effective on February 8.

The price of kasim and pigue should not exceed P270 per kilo. The President also fixed the price ceiling for liempo and dressed chicken at P300 per kilo and P160 per kilo, respectively.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar earlier blamed unscrupulous traders and wholesalers for the spike in pork prices due to the African swine fever (ASF).

“We are making sure that meat retailers do not take advantage of our consumers and we will intensify our monitoring and enforcement in order to protect our consumers’ rights,” Belmonte said.

“Our local price coordinating council which was activated in December 2019 will be working closely with the DA to monitor the price and supply of basic goods and commodities. Iimbestigahan natin ang mga retailer na mag-o-overprice ng mga produktong ito at 'yung suppliers nila,” she added.

Some retailers and traders declared a pork holiday on Monday in protest against the price cap.

QC MDAD head Procopio Lipana said at least 24 markets informed the department that they won't sell pork meat if their respective suppliers will deliver high prices of meat. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News