THE price of rice in Pangasinan has seen a significant increase before the end of 2023.

According to the monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region I, special local commercial rice costs P50 to P64, premium-milled sells between P48 to P58, well-milled for P40 to P57, while regular-milled rice costs P37 to P51.

While imported commercial rice not much different from local commercial rice, but special imported commercial rice costs between P55 to P75 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, as expected, due to high demand, price of fish has also increased as per DA monitoring.

Dagupan bangus now costs P200 per kilogram, as other bangus varieties also do, tilapia, previously marked at P120 per kilogram is now at P140, while galunggong is now at P200 per kilogram.

All fish products have had a P20 to P30 increase.

The DA said the increase is attributed not only to demand, but also to supply issues, as colder weather slows fish metabolism, resulting in slower fish growth.

As for poultry and livestock products, beef price remains stagnant, and still sells at P380 per kilogram. Pork ham sells for P300 per kilogram with a P20 increase compared to last month, liempo or pork belly sells for P320, while whole chicken which previously costs P170 is now being sold for P190 per kilo.

Medium-sized chicken eggs still sell at P8 apiece.

Price of lowland veggies remain stagnant, save for native pechay which has increased by 20 percent. It now sells for P60 per kilogram.

Ampalaya, eggplant, okra, and sitaw sell for P80 per kilogram, tomato price, now costing P30 per kilogram has its price decreased by 25 percent due to oversupply, while squash now sells for P40, with a 11.11 percent decrease.

For highland veggies, sayote now sells for P30 per kilogram. Its price has decreased by 25 percent.

Baguio pechay and scorpio cabbage both sell at P40, carrots at P80, and Baguio beans at P90.

Fresh red onion has decreased by almost half, now selling at P180 per kilogram. The decrease is noted due to the harvest season beginning during the third week of December up to early February 2024.

Siling labuyo has noted a 40 percent decrease in price, now selling at P300 per kiliogram.

The DA warned that price of rice and other crops may increase in the first quarter of 2024 due to the effects of El Niño phenomenon.

Pangasinan started to experience drought due to low levels of rainfall. (Ahikam Pasion)

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