Buyers in Pangasinan are getting more for their money as vegetable prices drop due to continuous rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon.

At the Mangaldan Public Market, prices of key vegetables fell by nearly 50 percent as of June 5.

Talong now sells for P40 per kilo, down from P70. Kalabasa has dropped to P20 to P30 per kilo from P50, while ampalaya and okra are now P60 per kilo, compared to P80 to P90 in previous weeks.

“Malaki ang ibinaba sa presyo ng gulay. Matumal kasi ang bentahan, tapos nasisira kasi ang gulay,” Gina Narnola, a vendor, said.

Narnola also said that sales have slowed down even with the price cuts.

The rainy weather has also affected the quality of produce. Vendors say some vegetables spoil quickly after getting wet.

“’Yung hindi na namin naibebenta, nabubulok na talaga kasi nabasa na ng ulan,” Theresa de Vera, another vendor at the public market, added.

Despite this, many shoppers are happy with the lower prices.

“Maganda kasi marami kami nabibili ngayon,” Danny Chua, a marketgoer, said.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) assured the public that vegetable supply remains stable despite the rains.

“’Yung gulay naman sa Benguet so far, stable naman,” Engr. Rosendo So, SINAG chairman, said.