Meat products in Metro Manila up by as much as P30 per kilo

Prices of meat products in Metro Manila have gone up by as much as P30 per kilogram from the levels seen last week, as the agriculture sector continues to face a number of issues such as the prevailing threat of African swine fever (ASF).

According to Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) representative Nicanor Briones, there have been issues on the supply of products such as eggs and pork.

“‘Pag dating sa itlog ay definitely talagang lalong tataas at talagang may kakulangan dahil sabi ko nga, bago makadagdag ng supply eh aabutin ng one and a half years,” he said in a report by Bernadette Reyes on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“‘Pag dating naman sa karneng baboy, eh ganyan pa rin ang sitwasyon medyo tataas kasi lalakas ang demand, ‘yung supply ay di pa rin naman magkakaroon ng ganon karaming dagdag dahil patuloy na mayroong ASF eh,” he added.

[When it comes to eggs, it will definitely go up further as there really is a shortage. It would take one and a half years for the supply to stabilize.

When it comes to pork, it could increase slightly because the demand will increase, while supplies will not have any significant increase because of the threat of ASF.]

The same report indicated that prices of meat products have increased by as much as P30 per kilogram in the Trabajo Market in Manila from the levels seen last Friday: kasim/pigue to P360 from P330; liempo to P400 to P410 from P380; and whole chicken to 210 from P200.

According to the United Broilers Raisers Association (UBRA) chairman Gregorio San Diego, the group will avoid raising rates as long as possible.

“Tumataas nga. Kaya lang, ibig ko sabihin, hanggat may margin pa naman kami na kikita pa naman kami, iiwasan sana namin na magtaaas. Kahit kumita nang kaunti, okay na,” he said in the same report.

[It is going up but what I mean is, along as we still have margins and we still have profits, we will avoid any price hikes. Even if we make small profits, that would be okay.]

For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has maintained that there is no shortage. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News