No price hikes in Metro Manila after Ruby

MANILA, Philippines - No price hikes were seen in most farm commodities in major Metro Manila markets following Typhoon Ruby’s devastation, based on the latest price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Data gathered by the DA Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) as of yesterday showed that prices of meat, eggs, vegetables and fish remained stable from the previous week.

“We are glad that the effect of the typhoon in the National Capital Region is not severe. This is because major production areas were not hit badly,” Leandro Gazmin, DA assistant secretary and AMAS head, told reporters.

Gazmin said the price of pork belly remained unchanged at P200 per kilo. Chicken remained at P140 per kilo and medium sized egg at P5 apiece. Prices of pork shoulder at P180 fell by P5 per kilo.

The lowest prices for pork shoulder at P170 per kilo and pork belly at P180 per kilo were seen at the Marikina market zone. The lowest prices for dressed chicken at P130 per kilo were seen at the Pasig Mega market, Marikina market zone and Commonwealth market.

The lowest prices of medium sized egg at P4.80 apiece were at the Commonwealth market.

The average price of medium sized bangus (milkfish) at P110 per kilo and tilapia at P100 per kilo remained unchanged from the previous week. The lowest prices for medium size bangus at P95 per kilo and tilapia at P85 per kilogram were seen at the Pasig Mega market.

Prices of vegetables such as carrots at P60 per kilo, tomatoes at P40 per kilo, onion at P60 per kilo, potatoes at P50 per kilo, pechay Baguio at P40 per kilo, chayote at P20 per kilo, imported garlic at P80 per kilo and ginger at P120 per kilo remained unchanged from the previous week.

Prices of other vegetables such as habitchuelas and eggplant rose from P60 to P80 per kilo.

Prices of vegetables such as bitter gourd, string beans, cabbage and native pechay increased from P60 to P70 per kilo.

Prices of fruits such as latundan banana remained at P50 per kilo from the previous week while calamansi rose from P60 to P70 per kilo.

Gazmin said some farm products may register price increases, but this is due to the Christmas season.

“But the price markup should not be more than five to percent,” said Gazmin.

The DA continues to monitor prices at major trading posts in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) lauded the government for early typhoon warnings, which prompted the agriculture industry to avoid possible losses.

“The farmers were able to secure their livestock and harvest their crops in advance,” FAO representative in the Philippines José Luis Fernandez said.

Fernandez said fisherfolk, particularly in the Visayas that was devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda last year, refrained from fishing and moved their boats and equipment to safety.

Quoting government estimates, the FAO said 55,850 hectares were damaged and a production loss of 56,090 metric tons (rice, corn and high value crops) was noted in the regions of Bicol and Eastern and Western Visayas. – With Ricky Bautista, Danny Dangcalan