No price hikes on veggies, poultry, DA asks producers

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has called on producers not to raise prices of vegetables and poultry products especially in areas directly affected by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

 

"Sana po bawal yung price increase sa mga tinda lalong-lalo na sa mga tinamaan ng bagyo," Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a briefing Monday.

 

"Pipilitin po ng kagawaran ang pagbabalanse ng supply," he said.

 

Typhoon Ruby made landfall at Saturday night over Dolores town in Eastern Samar province, with maximum sustained winds of 185 to 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph. 

 

It slowly made its way to Masbate in the Bicol region Sunday and weakened into a tropical storm Monday morning as it reached Marinduque in Southern Luzon.

 

Alcala said vegetable and poultry growers should not take advantage of the situation to raise prices in time for Christmas season.

 

"Unlike po nung Glenda, direct hit po ang Region IV-A, ang main supplier ng eggs at poultry products.... Safe po tayo sa supply ng poultry products. The way that we look at the projection of trajectory ng PAGASA, lampas po sa mga production site ng mga poultry products," he said.

 

"This holiday season, I don't see any reason na ito ay magshoot up dahil spared naman po yung Norte, where we get most of our vegetables," he added.

 

Meanwhile, seafood products are expected to become more expensive as Christmas nears, not because of the typhoon but because of strong demand, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Asis Perez said in the same briefing.

 

"I will not be surprised if there will be a slight increase in prices this Christmas. That's the trend," he said.

 

"Pag mismong araw na, parang yung ibang commodity, hindi na supply factor kung hindi ang panic buying at high demand kaya tumataas ang presyo," he noted.

 

With that, Asis adivsed consumers to buy seafood products a few days before Christmas day. —NB, GMA News