Prices of several agricultural commodities in Metro Manila markets have gone up from their levels a month ago due to shortfalls and inefficient distribution of available supply.
Based on the price monitoring reports of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA), the prevailing prices for selected rice variants, meat and vegetables recorded price increases between September and October.
Of the 20 fruits and vegetables being monitored by the DA, 11 recorded higher rates which included sitao, eggplant, tomato, Baguio beans, pechay, red onion, white onion, garlic, banana, papaya, and mango.
A kilo of red onion used to be sold at P130 in September. This month, it has risen to P200 a kilo. Other commodities recorded lower price increases.
As for meat, prices of pork ham and pork belly rose by 13 percent and 15 percent, respectively, largely due to the persistence of the viral hog disease African swine fever.
In terms of fish, the price of a kilo of galunggong increased to P200 a kilo from P160 a kilo, which prompted the DA to consider importation.
RISING A market vendor waits for customers at her stall in Commonwealth Market in Quezon City. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Transport woes
For poultry, the price of whole chicken increased to P140 from P130 a kilo—a welcome development for local poultry raisers who have been suffering from low prices since the new coronavirus contagion began.
As for rice, prices of imported special and premium rice rose by P2 per kilo, while local regular milled rice also increased to P42 from P40 a kilo. This is despite the deluge of imported rice in the market, and even when local palay prices have slumped to P12 a kilo in selected provinces.
Industry stakeholders said it had been a struggle to bring agricultural products to areas where there was a high demand from areas where there was oversupply.
For instance, pork supply in the Visayas and Mindanao could easily fill in the shortfall in Luzon. However, transporting commodities remains a challenge.
Other commodities such as bangus, beef, brisket, squash, cabbage, carrots, ginger, chili and calamansi recorded lower prices.