MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his public address on Monday (April 12), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. confirmed.

In a text message to reporters on Saturday (April 10), the Palace official said the President will push through with his weekly public address on Monday.

Duterte skipped his public address last week after several members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) tested positive for the COVID-19. Due to his several days of absence, speculations have surfaced questioning the state of the President’s health.

However, several officials, already assured that Duterte is of good health and will deliver his public address on Monday.

Meanwhile, Roque said he was admitted to a hospital for COVID-19 treatment. AAC

MANILA, Philippines—Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Saturday (April 10) announced he is currently admitted in a hospital for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment.

“This is to say that COVID-19 is more transmissible now so we have to do extra precaution,” he said.

Roque, meanwhile, also reiterated he will announce the risk classification of the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus Bubble on Saturday after the discussion with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

He also said  that President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his public address on Monday (April 12).

The Palace official requested prayers for all COVID-19 patients in the country. AAC

MANILA, Philippines — Meat dealers are urging the government to re-impose a price ceiling on pork, this time one that will cover the entire country, not just the National Capital Region (NCR).

The price ceiling imposed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Metro Manila lapsed on Thursday (April 8).

The price of pork spiked since late last year due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) prompting the DA to implement a price ceiling of P270 to P350 pesos per kilogram of pork.

But now that the price ceiling has lapsed and there is no suggested retail price (SRP) on pork, prices are expected to shoot up to as high as P400 per kilogram.

Thus, the Manila Meat Dealers Association appeals to the DA to impose another price ceiling, if not in the entire country, at least in Luzon.

“Iyan lang po talaga ang nakikita naming paraan, magkaroon ng panibagong price ceiling sa buong bansa na o buong Luzon kasi nandito naman ang sentro ng ASF sa buong Luzon,” said Meat Dealers’ president Ricardo Chan.

“Kasi pumalpak ang price ceiling nila (dahil) NCR lang. Ngayon kung ipatutupad iyan sa kabuoan ng bansa eh siguradong bababa ang presyo ng baboy,” he added.

The group said that though there is enough supply of pork in local markets at present, manipulation in prices remains evident.

“Halos lahat ng palengke makikita mo naman bukas. Sa madalit sabi may baboy, nagsasamantala lang talaga itong mga hog raiser,” he said.

“Magtataka ka eh diba? Bakit ang daming baboy halos lahat ng palengke may baboy pero noong magkaroon ng price ceiling eh nawala yung baboy. Anu yun, nagtago? Ibig sabihin yung mga hog raiser ang nagko-control,” he said.

Chan added that they are in favor of having another price ceiling for both local and imported pork to ease the burden from consumers.

Also, imposing such a limit will help local hog raisers compete with imported pork, he stated.