Some vendors hold 2nd day of 'pork holiday', others sell above price cap

Vendors at a public market in Quezon City proceeded with the second day of their "pork holiday" on Tuesday while those at a market in Sampaloc, Manila sold their meat products above the government-imposed price ceiling.

At Murphy Market in Quezon City, no vendor was seen selling pork and chicken. More than 50 vendors here agreed to hold the two-day "pork holiday" to protest the price cap set by the government, according to a report by James Agustin on GMA News' Unang Balita.

The price ceilings which took effect on February 8 are P270 per kilo for kasim and pigue, P300 per kilo for liempo, and P160 per kilo for chicken.

With no pork and chicken available on Tuesday, buyers went to other public markets or supermarkets to buy their meat, or bought fish and vegetables instead.

The meat vendors said they will resume selling on Wednesday after they receive the expected supply of hogs from Quezon and Batangas from their regular suppliers.

Meanwhile, at Trabajo Market in Sampaloc, Manila, there were vendors selling pork and chicken but at prices above the ceiling, according to a report by Darlene Cay on Unang Balita.

Pork (kasim and pigue) is being sold here at P285 to P290 per kilo. Liempo's price is P310 to P320 per kilo. Chicken, on the other hand, goes for P180 to P190 per kilo.

Vendors here said their cost of goods have gone up, since their suppliers have been selling to them at P255 per kilo of pork and P160 for chicken bought wholesale.

This left them with no choice but to sell their items above the government-set ceiling.

Vendors said they have yet to receive the hogs from Mindanao promised by the government, which would have allowed them to sell retail at the price ceiling.

Prices of pork and chicken have gone up last month due to low supply as a result of African swine fever cases.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the price ceiling in Metro Manila for 60 days starting February 8 to address the matter.

Vendors held a pork holiday on February 8 but resumed selling after Malacañang appealed to them to do so. —KG, GMA News