“Pork and chicken have become luxury items.”
This, according to Quezon City 6th District Councilor Bobby Castelo, is becoming a serious reality and no longer a joking matter, given the skyrocketing prices of both pork and chicken in Metro Manila.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently issued Executive Order (EO) No. 124, imposing a 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken. After 60 days, the Department of Agriculture has the option of extending its effectivity.
“Hindi na chicken ang presyo ng manok. Binababoy na ang presyo ng pork.”
“Hindi na chicken ang presyo ng manok. Binababoy na ang presyo ng pork. Huwag naman ganiyan. Napakaraming nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pandemya, lumiit o nawala ang kita ng mga pamilya, tapos tataas pa ng ganito ang presyo ng baboy at manok, kawawa na talaga ang Pilipino,” lamented Castelo, who is on his third and last term as Councilor.
“The local government units in Metro Manila, as well as private groups and individuals, must help each other strictly implement this EO in order to protect the public from unscrupulous sellers who are taking advantage of the health crisis to unfairly increase their already huge profits. We must be all eyes on this price watch,” encouraged Castelo.
“If anybody finds somebody who exceeds the price ceiling, PhP 160 for 1kg dressed chicken, PhP 270 for 1kg pigue, PhP 270 for 1kg kasim, PhP300 for 1kg liempo, then a report to the authorities shall immediately be made.”
“If anybody finds somebody who exceeds the price ceiling, PhP 160 for 1kg dressed chicken, PhP 270 for 1kg pigue, PhP 270 for 1kg kasim, PhP300 for 1kg liempo, then a report to the authorities shall immediately be made,” added Castelo.
Meanwhile, DILG Officer-in-Charge Usec. Bernardo Florece, Jr. said that President Duterte signed EO No. 124 to curb the unreasonable increase in prices of pork and chicken across NCR. He said that LGUs must see to it that the said EO is being implemented “to respond to the plea of ordinary Filipinos of the unreasonble price surge of pork and chicken, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Umaaray na ang ating mga kababayan sa taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin partikular ang baboy at manok and we have to act on their complaints. We therefore direct our Metro Manila Mayors to comply with EO 124 signed by the President and ensure that prices of pork and chicken are regulated in their localities,” said Florece.
As the said EO is only effective within Metro Manila, he urged LGUs outside of NCR to activate their Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) to ensure that prices of commodities are in check and valued accordingly.
Florece also warned violators that if proven guilty, “the government will not think twice of charging you with criminal cases congruent to the offense you committed.”