Lechon prices in La Loma up 30% ahead of Christmas holidays

Lechon prices in Quezon City’s La Loma district, famous for its roast pig,  have risen significantly in early December, with further increases anticipated as the Christmas holidays approach.

Current prices show a sharp jump: lechon weighing six to seven kilos now costs P10,000, up from P7,500—a 33% increase. Prices for eight to nine-kilo lechon climbed 29.4% to  P11,000 from P8,500; while lechon weighing 10 to 11 kilos saw a 30% rise,  now priced at P13,000 compared to P10,000 previously.

Lechon vendors report up to 20 reservations daily, with further price adjustments expected later this month.

“Meron po kami reservation until [December] 15 and then [December] 16 naman po, bago  uli ang price hanggang [December 31]. Nagbabago po ang presyo ng baboy  kasi depende po ‘yan sa dating ng baboy,” Aries Zuniga, a lechon vendor, said in a report by Katrina Son on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(We have reservations until December 15, and prices will be adjusted again starting December 16 through December 31. Prices  depend on the shipment of pigs.)

Ham prices

Meanwhile, ham prices in Quiapo, Manila, remain stable for now. Current prices are:

• Bone-in ham: P1,860 per kilogram
• Deboned ham: P1,760 per kilogram
• Pineapple sweet ham: P1,360 per kilogram
• Scrap ham: P1,720 per kilogram

According to Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, less than half of the traditional noche buena items have seen price increases compared to last year.

“For the noche buena items, we don’t have… More than  50% had the same prices last year, meaning no price increase siya from last year. Tapos meron mga iba na nag-increase sila, pero (some increased, but it's) less than 5%,” Roque said. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News