Weeks of continuous rain have damaged crops badly in the highlands, slashing farmers' income and lowering vegetable prices in markets like the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post in Benguet.

Rex Sanio, a farmer in Buguias, Buenget, said out of his three-ton cabbage harvest, only nearly two tons were usable due to rain-related spoilage.

“Bumaba ang presyo ng 50 percent, bumaba ang kalidad kasi kapag nabasa ng ulan, nalulusaw na,” Rex said.

In Kabayan, Chris Viduya, a cauliflower farmer, is also suffering from heavy crop damage.

“Apektado talaga. Madaling malusaw,” he said.

At the La Trinidad trading post, cabbage now sells for just P15 to P20 per kilo. Sayote dropped to P10 per kilo. Only potatoes, priced at P20 to P35 per kilo, and Benguet beans, at P50 to P60, remain expensive due to limited supply.

“’Yung iba sakto lang ang presyo, ’yung iba mataas. Pero nakadepende din sa pagdating ng gulay kasi,” Kurby Baliw-an, a regular vegetable buyer, said.

Due to the nonstop rain, farmers can’t harvest on time, leading to spoilage and oversupply. If the rainy weather continues, the prices of cabbage and sayote may drop even further.