Consumer shift bringing down pork prices — agriculture exec

A consumer shift from pork to chicken has brought down prices of pork by as much as P20/kilo, a senior agriculture official said Monday. In a radio interview, Agriculture assistant secretary Salvador Salacup said pork prices are "down" to P160 to P170 a kilo. "Noong first half of the year P180 to P190 ang presyo. Ngayon sa P160 to P170 na lang. The primary reason is consumer shifting (During the first half of 2010, pork prices were P180 to 190 a kilo. Now it's down to P160 to 170. The primary reason is consumer shifting)," Salacup said in an interview on dzBB radio. He noted a close shifting pattern between pork and chicken, where Filipinos tend to shift to pork when chicken prices are high, and vice-versa. "Ang shifting pattern ng manok at baboy napakalapit. Pag mataas ang presyo, shift sila sa isa (The shifting patterns of chicken and pork are close. If the price of one commodity goes up, they shift to the other)," he said. "Dahil mura ang manok doon sila pumupunta, naging matumal ang bentahan (ng pork) at reflected sa prices (Since chicken prices are lower for now, consumers tend to favor chicken so pork sales are low and vendors are forced to bring prices down)," he added. In the meantime, he said the DA will continue to monitor prices of the two commodities as the Christmas season approaches. Demand for the two commodities traditionally goes up during the holidays. — RSJ, GMANews.TV