Lechon ingredients pushing prices up

Prices of lechon in La Loma, Quezon City, the so-called "Lechon Capital of the Philippines," have shot up due to the price increase of ingredients.

According to a report by Bernadette Reyes on "24 Oras," the current price of lechon is P2,000 to P2,500 higher than last year. A kilo of lechon now costs P1,200 from P800 before.

According to the Department of Agriculture's (DA) monitoring, pork prices are currently stable. However, some lechon ingredients, such as onions, with a suggested retail price (SRP) of P170 per kilo, are being sold for P240 per kilo in Metro Manila.

Another factor for the costly lechon is the transportation of hogs from distant provinces, since there are no backyard raisers in the city.

“Gumagamit ka ng diesel sa pagiikot-ikot, sa pagkuha dun sa mga backyard hog raiser. Ngayon, dadalhin niya from Marinduque to Mindoro, dadalhin nya sa Manila. Mataas ang presyo ng diesel ngayon,” said Ramon Fererros, president of La Loma Lechoneros.

Meanwhile, the price of lechon manok in La Loma also increased by P20-40.

The United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) said the farmgate price of chicken is currently low at P104.50 per kilo, but market price reaches P180.

“Sa ngayon ay lugi ang mga nag-aalaga ng manok, mas mababa sa cost,"  UBRA president Bong Inciong said.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA News