Garlic prices drop as much as P80 per kg in Metro Manila

Prices of imported garlic continued to drop in public markets around Metro Manila, the Department of Agriculture announce on Thursday. 

 

Price monitoring between the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service showed garlic prices are now lower by P30 to P80 per kg, the department said in a statement, citing Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

 

The department noted the latest prices of the commodity in public markets as of Wednesday, July 23, and by how much they've declined since July 14:

 

 

Alcala said the sudden surge in prices was a "blessing in disguise" as it served as a warning to protect local production of garlic from price manipulation.

 

He urged Filipinos to patronize locally-grown varieties, and promised a greater price decreases in the future.

 

The Department of Trade and Industry speculated in July that unscrupulous traders may have caused garlic prices to spike in June. 

 

While a Senate probe has yet to produce results, the Bureau of Customs recently seized P37 million worth of smuggled garlic from China at the Manila International Container Port. 

 

The shipment is currently undergoing sanitary and phytosanitary testing to determine if it is fit for consumption. – Rie Takumi/VS, GMA News