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Group urges ‘pork holiday’ amid increase in prices


 

The Laban Konsyumer Inc. is advocating for a “pork holiday” as consumers bear the brunt of a sharp increase in meat prices.

Interviewed on GMA News TV's “Balitanghali” on Tuesday, Laban Konsyumer president Vic Dimagiba urged consumers to exercise their market power.

“‘Yung statement namin over the weekend na pork holiday, hindi pa po namin wini-withdraw ‘yun. Kailangan po tayong mga consumer, exercise natin ‘yung ating market power. Matagal na po tayong na-take advantage ng mahal ng presyo ng baboy,” he said.

“Tayong mga konsyumer, ang karapatan natin, ‘wag muna tayong bumili ng baboy na ang presyo ay nasa P400 at above. Kung bibili tayo ng baboy ay ‘yung nagko-comply sa price ceiling,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered the imposition of a price cap on pork and chicken for 60 days in Metro Manila. 

The executive order (EO) states that the price of kasim and pigue must not exceed P270 per kilo, while the price ceiling for liempo and dressed chicken was set at P300 and P160, respectively.

However, the agriculture department said the EO does not cover supermarkets

“Ang problema po, second day nga lang ng price ceiling, hindi pa po natin alam kung nagco-comply na ang merkado. So kailangan nga po may extensive monitoring and enforcement,” Dimagiba said.

“Kapag po bumaba na ang presyuhan sa lebel ng price ceiling ay masasabi po natin na na-exercise ng mga konsyumer ‘yung kanilang karapatan. Kung hindi pa kayang bumili, ‘wag na muna siyang bumili.”

Laban Konsyumer also opposed proposals to lower tariffs on pork products. 

“Meron tayong lokal na industriya na dapat ding alagaan… You level the playing field. Bayaan mo silang mag-compete. They pay the tariff, they pay VAT, at saka kung ano pa yung mga buwis. And then mag-compete siya dito sa local market,” Dimagiba said.

He argued that it should be up to consumers to decide between local and imported products.

“Magdidikta ngayon ang supply and demand kung sino sa kanilang dalawa, lokal at importasyon, ang magkakaroon ng magandang hanapbuhay. Pero ‘yung bibigyan mo po ng zero tariff, papatayin mo po ‘yung lokal e. I don’t think that’s a good policy,” Dimagiba said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News

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