City probing rise of meat prices at Carbon Market

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Market Operations Division (MOD) is investigating suppliers who are allegedly behind the increase in the price of meat products at the Carbon Public Market.

It was reported that it was the suppliers who raised the prices, which was why vendors had no choice but to also increase the prices of their pork and poultry products.

“Last week, it so happened na-brought up na nga kaso nga medyo nisaka og maayo ang presyo sa karneng baboy... Ato na ng gipa-imbestigahan sa atong operations head; gikuha na nato ang mga data kay every day nag-submit man na sila og report as to the prices,” Cabales said.

Cabales said the MOD has been monitoring the prices of meat sold at the markets in the city.

“Law of supply and demand. Kung daghan gani ang supply, lower pud ang price, but tungod sad sa ASF (African Swine Fever), mao na atong gitan-aw nga anggulo nga most probably mao ang hinungdan nga nagnihit ang atong karne kay medyo menus ang pasok from other sources. Sa pagkakaron, nagsalig lang siguro ta sa mga local nato nga farms,” he said.

Per data provided by Cabales, from P180 or P220, the price of pork increased up to P260 to P280 per kilo.

Meanwhile, chicken, which is usually at P160 per kilo, increased up to P180.

Cabales said the MOD is coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the agency is monitoring such matter.

“Even wala pa magsaka ang prices, sige na gyud ang price monitoring. Kuhaon ang data every day kay ipakita sa DTI nga mao ni ang trend karon diha,” he said.

“Kay as of now, walay power ang MOD pag-impose og other penalties kung naa mi ma-discover na nag-overpricing so mao nag sige mi’g pagtigom og data kay dili gyud ta sigurado if is this overpricing or not,” he added.

Cabales said this is because the prices of these products are not the same in the different markets in the city.

“To be honest, maglisod ko sa pagdetermine which is asa gyud ang ga-overpricing kay lahi-lahi man ang base. Makaingon ta og overpricing kung usa lang ilang supplier,” he said.

For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 said the prices of meat and meat products are still within normal range based on its weekly monitoring.

DA-7 Director Salvador Diputado said even prices at the Carbon Public Market have not reached an alarming level but prices vary depending on location. 

He said that although there is enough supply of meat, there are instances that artificial shortage may occur due strict quarantine protocols wherein container vans loaded with meat and meat products experience delay in transport.

“Naa usahay ma-delayed ang pag-biyahe kay ang mga drivers ba ron wala maka-comply sa travel restrictions, mao nang malangay,” Diputado said.

He said there is no shortage or dwindling of meat supply in the Visayas and there is no reason to be alarmed.

“In fact, even until the whole month of February, we have enough supply; then the pork producers will have to assess the situation,” Diputado told The Freeman.

He added that Governor Gwen Garcia is set to issue an Executive Order wherein Cebu will only supply meat and meat products to Metro Manila if Cebu has a surplus of production.

Currently, Central Visayas is supplying meat and meat products to Metro Manila.

“In case ang production sa atong meat igo-igo ra sa Cebu, then the local market should be the priority aron dili mosaka ang presyo nato,” Diputado said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, JMO (FREEMAN)