PRICE ALERT: Noche Buena Food Prices Are Only Monitored, Says DTI

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) clarified in a report by CNN Philippines that the Noche Buena price food list published last November 23 was merely a guide and that the items on that list are not price-regulated food items.

This was what Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said in the report, "Yung Noche Buena price guide, that is not regulated by government kasi seasonal products ito. They are neither basic nor prime. So ang presyo ay manufacturers ang nagde-decide. Pero naka-monitor kami na kapag may tumaas na presyo compared sa new prices sa prevailing price, doon kami naa-alert agad." 

This may be a cause for concern, especially for those who are interested in keeping their food budget for the holidays in check. For those interested in what the market prices of food at the palangke are like, beef, pork, and chicken continue to be priced higher than usual. Whole chicken remains P200 per kilo, pork kasim at P300 per kilo, and beef brisket at P370 per kilo. 

Red onions continue to rival pork and beef prices per kilo at P380 this week. 

Here is the food that saw price increases this week: 

Here are the food that saw a price increase over the past week.

Illustrator Louis Miguel A. Talao

Here is the other food that had a price decrease this past week: 

Here are the food that saw a price decrease over the past week.

Illustrator Louis Miguel A. Talao

Here are more food that saw a price decrease over the past week.

Illustrator Louis Miguel A. Talao

Cheap Meat Shopping Tip 

Photo by Shutterstock

If you're truly a smart food shopper, you will heed this shopping advice: Buy and freeze meat when affordable. This is a great tip to keep in mind, especially since beef rump dropped from P450 to P420 per kilo this week. While P30 may not seem like a big deal, it becomes a bigger discount if you're buying 2 to 3 kilos of meat to serve for a family gathering of 8 or more this Noche Buena. You can use the savings to buy more pasta, more sauce, or more anything else to make your Noche Buena that much tastier. 

Plus, if you buy it too early to cook or buy more than you need during a shopping spree, you can freeze it since properly frozen meat can last months in the freezer! 

5 Delicious Recipes To Make Your Ham Extra Appetizing 

Even the most inexpensive ham can taste better!

Photo by Ocs Alvarez

If you have an affordable ham on hand that you're not happy to serve as is, there are ways to make it taste extra special with a few extra ingredients and a little effort. This can include sugar, pineapples, honey, or even cola! Try any of these ham recipes to level up your Noche Buena ham meal: 

1 Glazed Roast Ham Recipe

2 Orange, Clove, and Honey Baked Ham Recipe

3 Sweet Ham with Pineapple Sauce Recipe

4 Christmas Hamoncito Recipe

5 Stuffed Pork Hamonado Recipe

Which of these ham recipes do you want to use to elevate your humble ham dish this Christmas? Want more ideas? See if you can find it on this list: 

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The palengke prices listed above are from the Department of Agriculture Bantay Presyo monitoring network which are sourced and gathered from various markets in these areas around the metro: Commonwealth, Guadalupe, Las Piñas, Malabon, Marikina, Mega Q-Mart, Muntinlupa, Muñoz, Pasay, Pasig, Pritil, Quinta, and San Andres. 

For more information about the price watch of the Department of Agriculture, visit the government agency's website.

Price Alert is a weekly roundup of the prices of common goods and other ingredients monitored using the Department of Agriculture's Price Watch. 

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