HIGHER transportation and production costs are driving up average prices of meat products among markets in Negros Occidental.
The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), in its latest market price monitoring report released Tuesday, noted the highest increase of P4.68 per kilogram on the average price of dressed chicken, specifically broiler.
From P157.50 per kilogram during the previous week’s monitoring, it went up to P162.18 per kilogram.
The report showed that current price of carabeef is P228.89 per kilogram, which is P1.60 higher than the previous P227.29 per kilogram.
For beef, an average increase of P0.81 per kilogram was noted. From P235.86, the price went up to P236.67 per kilogram.
PVO also noted a slight increase in the price of pork, at P0.15 per kilogram. From the average cost of P201.64, it is now sold at P201.79 per kilogram.
There is also an increase of P4.03 per kilogram in chevon (goat meat) to P285.14 from only P281.11, report added.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the increase in average prices of meat products is attributed to provincial movement of commodities, adding that the increase in fuel prices resulted to higher transportation cost.
He said prices of feed ingredients like corn are also increasing by P2 to P4 per kilogram thus, local raisers incur added production cost.
“Higher production as well as transportation cost would certainly result to increase in prices of meat products in the market,” Decena said, noting that there is also an increase in consumption requirement due to influx of local tourists.
Tourism activities like fiestas and other major celebrations in the province, including Sinulog Festival in Kabankalan City and Dinagsa Festival in Cadiz City, greatly contributed to higher demand of these commodities.
As the demand increases, prices would normally go up, Decena added. (with reports from PNA)