Many vendors in Dagupan City have stopped selling tomatoes altogether after prices reached as high as P220 per kilo.

"Hindi na ako bumibili ng kamatis... hindi na ako naglalagay ng kamatis sa gulay namin, maraming bawang at sibuyas na lang. Naka-depende naman sa pagluluto ‘yan," Joyce Bandong, a buyer, said.

The cost of tomatoes now matches that of a kilo of chicken, with individual pieces priced between P8 and P9.

"Sobrang taas na ng presyo hindi na kaya," Concepcion Bonus, a vendor, said.

"Sumusugal talaga kami, kawawa din kasi ‘yung ibang bibili kung wala silang mabili na kamatis," Jenica Zabala, another vendor, added.

The rise in tomato prices can be attributed to crop damage caused by Super Typhoon Pepito, which affected tomato farms in Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, two key sources of supply.

Engr. Rosendo So, Chairman of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), said with the normalization of weather conditions, the tomato supply and prices are expected to stabilize in the coming months.

"'Yung produkto, medyo may problema. Pero kapag nag-normalize naman na ang panahon natin babalik ang sigla ng mga taniman natin," So said.