The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have convened the Task Force on Food Security last week to tackle trading issues plaguing agriculture products that may have contributed to rising prices.
The meeting comes in time for the end of the price freeze yesterday, January 17.
“Between producers and retailers, there are lots of layers so DA helps connect farmers directly to retailers. If the goods will be transferred six times, additional costs will be incurred so the task group on food security is really studying this carefully,” said Ruth Castelo, DTI undersecretary, at the agency’s television program Konsyumer Atbp.
Castelo said DA Secretary William Dar and DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez met the task force last January 14 amid reports prices of pork and vegetables have gone up in public markets.
Based on to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, as of January 9, retail prices of pork kasim is at a high of P400 per kilogram (kg) and a low of P320 per kg. for a prevailing price of P350 per kg while pork liempo’s high and prevailing price is both at P400 per kg but at a low of P350 per kg.
Meanwhile, beef rump is at a high of P480 per kg, a low of P350 per kg and prevailing at P420 per kg as beef brisket is at a high of P400 per kg, a low of P300 per kg and prevailing at P360 per kg.
Compared to other types of meat, the cost of chicken is stable at a high P200 per kg with a low of P160 per kg and prevailing at P180 per kg.
Bangus is also at a high of P220 per kg with a low of P120 per kg and prevailing at P200 per kg while tilapia is steady at a high of P160 per kg. and a low of P110 per kg and prevailing at P130 per kg.
Among monitored fish products for the period, galunggong and alumahan had the highest costs.
Galunggong is at a high of P300 per kg and a low of P220 per kg while prevailing at P240 per kg as alumahan reached a high of P400 per kg and a low of P240 per kg and prevailing at P360 per kg
For vegetables, scorpio cabbage is at a high of P200 per kg and a low of P120 per kg prevailing at P150 per kg while carrots reached a high of P160 per kg and low of P75 per kg prevailing at P120 per kg.
Other commonly used vegetables such as tomato, red onion and eggplant also recorded high prices above the P200 per kg range.
Tomato is at a high of P200 per kg and a low of P100 per kg prevailing at P140 per kg while red onion is at a high of P210 per kg and a low of P90 per kg and prevailing at P110 per kg as eggplant reached a high of P200 per kg and a low of P130 per kg and prevailing at P170 per kg.
Potato is currently at a high of P150 per kg and a low of P80 per kg prevailing at P120 per kg as native pechay is at a high of P150 per kg and a low of P60 per kg and prevailing at P80 per kg
Castelo said the price freeze which took effect on Nov. 18, 2020 when a state of calamity was declared in Luzon ended yesterday.
She said except for products covered by the suggested retail price (SRP) system of the DA, DTI and the Department of Health the price freeze on other products including those monitored by the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is lifted.
