Lechon prices go up amid holiday rush

The cost of lechon has gone up by at least P1,000 days ahead of Christmas, according to a Monday report on 24 Oras by Maki Pulido.

Lechon weighing around five to seven kilos that sold for P5,000 just last week now costs P6,000.

An eight-kilo lechon is now sold at P7,000, while a 10-kilo lechon goes for P8,000.

Lechon is also being sold at more affordable portions which are sold for P800 per kilo in La Loma, Quezon City.

Some lechon vendors cited the rising costs of materials like charcoal and bamboo as the cause of the price hike.

They also said the price adjustment is partly due to the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus, which has caused retailers to seek hogs from provinces that were not affected by the disease.

“May agent kasi mam e. Parang may ahente na kung sino mas mataas, do’n ibibigay. Pagdating sa La Loma, ang epekto, tumataas ‘yung [presyo ng] baboy,” said Ryan Ferrero of Ryan’s Lechon.

Sellers advised that prices are sure to go up again next week after an advisory was issued by their suppliers.

Many Filipinos continue to patronize lechon despite the ASF scare.

“Bago makarating baboy dito,  talagang pinanggagalingan nila ASF-free zone. Hindi rin naman makakarating dito ‘yung may dipresensya kasi may quarantine nga ‘di ba,” William Chua of Ping Pings Lechon assured buyers.

The Department of Agriculture also said there is no discrepancy between farmgate and retail prices.

In Northern Luzon, the farmgate price of P115 to P120 per kilo translates to P185 to P195 per kilo in the market.

“Pabayaan natin sila kumita. Anybody who can pay the price can get it,” Agriculture spokesperson Noel Reyes said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News