Meat prices start to drop

CEBU, Philippines — Prices of meat products at the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City have started to lower due to the increase in supplies.

Cebu City Market Administrator Irvin Cabales said that local meat suppliers are gradually returning to their normal operations. Despite the continued ban on pork and pork products from Eastern Visayas due to the reported cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the area, Cabales noted an increase in the supplies from the local suppliers.

“Niubos na ron kay daghan naman ta’g supply,” said Cabales.

Earlier, Mayor Edgardo Labella ordered a ban on pork and pork products from Eastern Visayas due to the reported ASF cases in the area.

According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs, warthogs, and boars. 

Pigs infected with the ASF virus experience high fever, depression, loss of appetite, redness of ears, abdomen, and legs, vomiting, and diarrhea that may lead to death.

At present, there is no vaccine or treatment for ASF.

Based on the Carbon Public Market Unit 1 price list provided by Cabales, the price of pork has decreased to P160 to P200 per kilo, depending on the meat part, from P260 to P280 per kilo. The chicken has also decreased from P180 to P125 per kilo.

“Ang nahitabo man gud niadtong past few months, during (start) sa pandemic, nigamay ang ilang (local suppliers) production kay mura’g ila sa’ng giminusan ilang gipangbuhi. Karon back to normal, mga pila na ka months, karon okay na kaayo, maayo na ang dagan,” said Cabales. — FPL (FREEMAN)