By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

As the prices of meat continue to rise in Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday morning issued a warning to local traders against manipulating prices.

“Don’t take advantage of the situation. Moderate income should be enough,” Lacson said.

The governor added that Manila buyers go to Negros to buy their meat supply and when it reaches the markets, “their profits have more than doubled.”

He also clarified that the local prices of meat products surged not because there is a lack of supplies but because of these traders.

A report by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed that as of February 1, 2021 Prevailing Market Price of Livestock and Poultry Monitoring, there is a P21.27 per kilo increase in the average price of dressed broiler chicken. From P159.35 per kilo two weeks ago, it went up to P180.62 per kilo this week.

The fourth district composed of Bago City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, and La Carlota City registered the highest price of dressed broiler chicken in the province, averaging at P189.17 per kilo.

In terms of pork, the PVO reported an increase of P15.69 per kilo compared to its cost during the last two weeks.

From average prices of P204.76 and P213. 40 per kilo on January 18 and 25, respectively, the prevailing market price of pork per kilo is now at P220.45.

The highest average price was still noted in the fourth district at P223.33 per kilo.

If per locality alone, the highest price of the commodity was noted in Bacolod City at P260 per kilo.

Earlier, local hog raisers urged Lacson to make sure the province’s pork supply remained stable. They also suggested limiting the number of hogs being exported to Luzon.

There is currently a huge demand for hogs in Luzon due to low production that is being blamed for the ASF outbreak there.

Negros Occidental, the Philippines’ top backyard swine producer, has a P6-billion hog industry./DGB, WDJ