Consumers may enjoy stable supply and prices of agricultural commodities this December despite the slight increase in food inflation to 3.5 percent in November, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said that while food inflation has slightly increased from three percent in October, rice inflation incurred a significant drop to 5.1 percent from 9.6 percent — a lowering trend that may be sustained.
“If international rice prices continue to ease, the peso remains stable, and tariffs stay low, we would most likely see the price of well-milled rice decline further in the coming months,” he said.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, likewise, mentioned a stable supply by the year-end.
“This December, iyong supply natin for rice, maganda iyong volume natin. I-expect natin na bababa iyong local production, iyong import natin nasa 4.5 million metric tons,” he said in an interview, citing more than 100 days of national stock inventory by the year-end.
Besides these, he also highlighted the continuous implementation of government interventions, including the Rice for All and P29 program.
The Rice for All program refers to the sale of P40 per kilogram of mixed local and imported well-milled rice to the general public; while the P29 program is the sale of aging but good quality stocks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice worth P29 per kilogram to members of the vulnerable sector including senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and solo parents.
For vegetables, which is considered one of the main drivers of the November food inflation — increasing to 5.9 percent from -9.2 percent following the effects of successive typhoons — De Mesa said consumers can expect easing prices within the month.
“Last week hanggang this week, nakikita na natin iyong pagbaba ng presyo ng gulay. So, we can expect na bababa ang presyo at saka ‘yung epekto ng vegetable sa inflation for December,” he said.
De Mesa also reported easing prices on select vegetables following retail price elevations after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” (Trami) to Super Typhoon “Pepito” (Man-yi).
“Immediately after the typhoon, iyong kamatis from P80 last month, noong time na iyon naging P220. Last week, naging P200, early this week P180, ngayon P150, P160. So, nakita natin malaki iyong pagbaba,” he said.
The DA official said the positive adjustment is being led by the back-to-normal transport of highland vegetables following logistics resumption in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan and Nueva Ecija, among others.
Recovery of low-land vegetable production is also underway, he added.
De Mesa, meanwhile, attributed the accelerated inflation in meat to the continuous effects of African swine fever (ASF) and the increasing demand during the holiday season.
“Starting noong ‘-ber’ season, marami na iyong orders for lechon at hamon,” he said.
He, however, reiterated a stable supply of livestock and poultry following assurance from major stakeholders. (PNA)