Agriculture Dept: No reason to raise prices of vegetables from north Luzon

Amid fears of prices of highland vegetables going up due to the possibility of frost, the Department of Agriculture reminded growers from the north on Friday that there is no reason to raise prices of their products.

 

In a radio interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup said their monitoring shows the supply of goods at the La Trinidad Trading Post in northern Luzon appeared normal.

 

“Walang dahilan para taasan ang presyuhan lalo ang highland vegetables,” Salacup told dzBB radio.

 

He also said a check with the DA’s Cordillera regional office indicated there is no frost damage to vegetables at this time.

 

Earlier, state weather forecasters allayed fears of frost ruining vegetables in northern Luzon, where the northeast monsoon has caused low temperatures.

 

Temperatures dropped to as low as 9.5 degrees Celsius in Baguio City last week.

 

However, PAGASA forecaster Buddy Javier said the possibility of frost damaging vegetables is small so long as temperatures do not drop below 9.5 degrees.

 

In the meantime, Salacup said the DA has sent monitoring teams to markets, especially in Metro Manila, to check on reports that some vendors have hiked prices of highland vegetables.

 

“Patitingnan natin yan. Iba ang presyuhan sa ibang pamilihan, ang nagtataasan kaunting palengke yan. Abisuhan namin ang monitors subaybayan nang mabuti,” he said.

 

Stable  

In Marikina City, radio dzBB’s Glen Juego reported prices of highland vegetables at the Marikina Public Market remained stable as of Friday morning.

 

Baguio beans sold at P50 per kilo and pechay at P35, while prices of carrots went down to P30. Cabbage prices remained at P30 per kilo, the report said.

 

Similarly stable were prices of garlic at P70, ampalaya at P35 and eggplant at P35. — RSJ, GMA News