THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental reported a slight increase in the prices of meat products in the province.

Based on the prevailing market price of livestock and poultry products report of PVO, the average price of dressed broiler and native chicken went up by P0.06 and P0.14 per kilogram, respectively.

From P162.55 per kilo on May 18 report, the price of dressed broiler chicken increased to P162.61 per kilo as of May 26.

Native chicken, meanwhile, now costs P253.26 per kilo from the previous P253.12 per kilo.

Per kilo of carabeef [carabao meat] now worth P261.62, which is P0.72 higher than the previous price of P260.90 per kilo.

For beef and chevon [goat meat], the PVO reported an increase of P0.40 and P0.95 per kilo, respectively.

Per kilo of beef is P266.38 from the previous price of P265.98 while chevon costs P316.96 from only P316.01 per kilo.

Pork, on the other hand, is sold at P205.42 per kilo. The figure is P0.73 higher than the previous P204.79 per kilogram.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the upward movement in the price of meat products in the province is attributed to prevailing community quarantine measures.

Decena said there’s a higher demand as slaughter increases due to bulk buying scheme.

“People tend to store pork for their consumption amid limitation in transportation,” he said, adding that “under a new normal, community selling is enhanced.”

The PVO, meanwhile, noted a decrease in the average price of eggs in the province.

The prevailing price ranges from P6.34 to P8.18 per piece depending on sizes whether small, medium, large and extra large.

These are lower by P0.11 to P0.39 per piece compared to the previous price ranging from P6.53 to P8.49.

The weekly price decrease is due to transport cost as layer farm egg outlet is based in Bacolod City, the provincial veterinarian said.