Despite the price freeze imposed on essential items, prices of agricultural products and other basic goods continue to jack up in public markets at the start of the year, peasants groups lamented.
This January, Anakpawis, Pamalakaya, and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) asserted how Filipinos were “overwhelmed” by the increase in prices of food items as much as P50-P100 per kilo amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The government implemented a 60-day ceiling on prices of basic commodities in areas under the state of calamity in Luzon following the consecutive typhoons in November last year.
Prices of rice, fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, beef, poultry, and fish products are frozen at their prevailing prices.
Based on the latest price monitoring of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the groups listed the prices per kilogram of vegetables, pork, and fresh fish that include:
Ampalaya - P200
Sitaw - P140
Pechay - P100
Squash - P130
Eggplant - P210/4 bundles
Tomato - P130
Cabbage - P220
Carrots - P160
Patatas - P150
Onion - P130
Garlic - P130
Chili (Labuyo) - P700-P1000
Pork - P400-P440
Bangus - P170-P220
Tilapia - P140-P160
Galunggong - P260-P280
The groups noted that the actual prices could go even higher in the provinces.
“Many people lost jobs and livelihood because of the pandemic. The salaries of workers did not increase and the government has almost no aid for those displaced. Now the prices of all commodities and food are higher, how can the people eat and survive?” Anakpawis secretary general Cathy Estavillo said.
On Friday, the progressive groups protested at the Litex Market in Commonwealth, Quezon City to voice out their complaints against the rising prices of food and basic commodities.
They are demanding the stricter implementation of the price freeze, citing the food prices are “unaffordable for ordinary wage earners and the increasing jobless population” affected by the pandemic.
The KMP underscored the need for the government to provide immediate food subsidies to the poor.
“In the long term, the government should overhaul its policies to ensure domestic food supplies. Local production should be strengthened, and veer way from dependence on unreliable food imports,” KMP chair Danilo Ramos said.