BY IME SORNITO, JEN BAYLON, AND MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – As the holiday season approaches, the traditional preparation of meaty dishes featuring pork, beef or chicken has become increasingly expensive. With meat prices rising, consumers are seeking affordable yet delicious alternatives.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office 6 is leading the way by advocating for cost-effective and healthier options.
Maria Teresa Solis, head of DA-6’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, suggests that seafood and vegetables, which are plentiful in the region, could be excellent alternatives.
She advises consumers seeking to economize to consider other agricultural and fishery products.
“Christmas isn’t only about the food. Simpler, healthier choices contribute to better living. The decision to choose pork or beef is personal, but we advocate for a simple, healthy lifestyle,” Solis said.
Panay News gathered opinions from local residents.
JC Verdadero, a 36-year-old from Iloilo province, expressed his preference for vegetables, saying, “Happiness doesn’t depend on having pork. I’m fine without it.”
He said his family plans to combine vegetables, fruits and a smaller quantity of meat to save money.
Similarly, 50-year-old “Burnok” intends to reduce meat consumption.
“We’ll still have pork, but instead of 10 kilos, maybe just three. We have to adjust to include more vegetables given the high prices,” Burnok explained.
He added that budgeting has become crucial with the current cost of goods and stagnant wages.
Alvin John Miguel, 27, said his family would primarily prepare vegetable dishes due to the high cost of pork.
“We’re happy as long as we’re together, even with less meat,” he said.
DA-6 recently confirmed a significant increase in meat and some agricultural product prices, attributed to high demand and the impact of African Swine Fever. As of mid-November, live-weight pork prices were between P320 and P360 per kilo.
Solis noted, “Prices started rising last month, but the increase is particularly sharp now, especially with the upcoming December events.”
In Iloilo province, pork prices in 43 municipalities and one component city ranged from P320 to P400 per kilo as of November 13, according to the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO).
Dr. Darel Tabuada, head of the PVO, explained that prices are influenced by supply and demand, especially around Christmas and New Year.
The PVO’s Nov. 6 swine inventory showed a decline in hog numbers from 277,421 in September 2022 to 75,478, indicating a 33.12 percent sufficiency level.
However, Tabuada noted that this might not significantly impact consumers as hogs have been imported from other provinces throughout the year.
Solis said the region has an adequate pork supply thanks to inter-provincial cooperation and imported products, especially processed meats.
In addition to pork, prices for chicken, eggs, and other commodities are expected to rise, although supply remains sufficient.
Here are the prices of pork, fish, agricultural products, and other commodities based on DA-6 monitoring this second week of November compared to the first week of the month:
Fish Products
* Bangus – P220 (no changes)
* Tilapia – from P170 to P180 or six percent increase
* Galungggong (local) – from P190 to P240 or 26 percent increase
* Alumahan – from P260 to P240 or eight percent decrease
Livestock and Poultry Products
* Whole chicken (commercial) – from P200 to P195 or three percent decrease
* Whole chicken (native) – P360 (no changes)
* Pork belly (liempo) – from P330 to P350 or six percent increase
* Pork ham (kasim) – from P320 to P340 or six percent increase
Rice (Local and Commercial)
* Premium – from P50 to P53 per kilo or six percent increase
* Well-milled – from P47 to P50 per kilo or six percent increase
* Regular-milled – P49 per kilo (no changes)
Fruits
* Calamansi – from P50 to P90 per kilo or 45 percent increase
* Banana – P90 per kilo (no changes)
* Papaya – from P50 to P55 per kilo or five percent increase
* Mango (carabao) – from P160 to P175 per kilo or nine percent increase
For lowland vegetables such as ampalaya, sitao, pechay, eggplant, squash, and tomato, there has been a 10 to 25 percent increase per bundle. For other basic commodities, prices remain at around P80 per kilo for sugar and P80 per liter for cooking oil./PN
