Prices of local flowers up, supply low after ‘Lawin’ hit Baguio, Benguet

Prices of flowers at Dangwa Market in Manila have gone up a week before the commemmoration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, with supply from the local scene low after Supertyphoon Lawin hit northern Luzon.

A report from GMA News' Bam Alegre on Unang Balita said suppliers from Baguio and Benguet are having a hard time bringing their flowers to Manila due to roads affected by the typhoon.

Flowers were also destroyed on farms, it added.

Prices of local flowers have spiked up at Dangwa, with a bundle of two dozen roses now costing P250 to P300, from its previous price of P150 to P200.

The price of Malaysian mums went up from P50 to P100 per dozen, while a dozen of anthurium now cost P120 from P80.

Astomeria, another flower grown in Benguet and Baguio, used to cost P8 to P10 pesos per dozen, but is now at P30 to P50.

Prices normally go double or triple during special occasions, such as All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, the report said.

It added that vendors are expecting the supply to go up with imported flowers from China and Europe.

These flowers will also drag down the prices of flowers from the North, which is seen to benefit customers, but affect the local flower industry, the report also said. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News