SINAG expects higher prices of agri goods despite DA assurance

Prices of agricultural products are expected to increase amid the holiday season based on historical movement despite assurances made by the Department of Agriculture (DA), according to farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG).

According to SINAG President Rosendo So, prices of goods such as rice and eggs are anticipated to post upward movements, even if there are no changes in the farmgate prices or those received by the farmers.

“Every December, tumataas ‘yung (there is an upward movement on the) retail price maski hindi tumaas ‘yung (even if there is no increase on the) farmgate price,” So said in Vonne Aquino's report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

The latest data available from the DA’s price monitoring showed local commercial rice in Metro Manila ranging from P41.81 to P58.17 per kilogram as of October 27 based on the variety, while imported commercial rice ranged from P43.00 to P56.75 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, medium-sized chicken eggs were estimated to be at P7.96 per piece.

So’s remarks come even as the DA assured the public that there was enough production to meet the anticipated demand.

“Hindi po, hindi natin ine-expect ‘yan dahil maganda ang supply natin because of the stability of our local production plus tuloy tuloy ang additional na imports na pumpasok na po at papasok,” DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said.

(No, we do not expect price hikes since we have a good supply because of the stability of our local production, plus the continuous arrival of imports.)

De Mesa said an additional 300,000 metric tons of pork were expected to be produced in the fourth quarter, while there was no problem with the production of chicken given the high production.

For now, the DA declined to comment on the matter. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News