Gov’t to boost supply following ‘pork holiday’ warning

Malacañang said Thursday the government plans to increase the supply of pork after some retailers protested the price cap that will be implemented in Metro Manila starting next week.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said the government would secure pork from Visayas and Mindanao as well as from some African swine fever-free provinces in Luzon.

“Ita-transport ang mga ito sa mga pangunahing pampublikong palengke sa Metro Manila simula ngayong weekend sa presyong mula P270 hanggang P300 bawat kilo para sa kapakanan ng mga mamimili. So ang inaangkat po natin, grown and fed in the Philippines,” Roque said at a press briefing.

“Kung dadamihan mo ang supply at kasama ang price cap, inaasahan po natin na talagang bababa naturally ang presyo ng baboy dahil more supply means [cheaper] prices. Iyan po ang twin strategy ng ating gobyerno.”

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered the imposition of a price cap on pork and chicken for 60 days in the capital region amid an increase in prices.

The price ceiling will take effect on February 8.

However, some retailers warned that they would not sell pork during the 60-day implementation of the price cap to avoid losses and penalties for violation.

Duterte on Wednesday approved the creation of an inter-agency task group that will run after profiteers, hoarders and smugglers of agricultural products.

The Department of Agriculture said the task force will initially go after unscrupulous traders, viajeros, and wholesalers who have unreasonably jacked up the prices of hogs and pork, hovering at more than P400 per kilogram that persisted even beyond the 2020 Christmas season and despite reduced demand.—AOL, GMA News