MANILA – Consumers may enjoy stabilized prices of highland and lowland vegetables in December if the good weather continues, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.
“Ang maganda niyan, kapag wala nang bagyo sa mga vegetable-producing areas natin nitong (What’s good is that if there will be no more typhoons in vegetable-producing areas in) Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon, tuloy-tuloy na makaka-recover iyong gulay. Dadami uli iyong volume at babalik uli sa normal na presyo (vegetable production will continue to recover. The volume will increase anew, and it will go back to the normal price levels),” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a phone interview.
He said the DA has monitored the gradual decline of prices of select vegetables in local markets following the effects of successive typhoons that hit parts of Luzon.
“Nakikita natin na bumababa na rin paunti-unti. Ibig sabihin kapag bumababa na, nakakarating na iyong mga volume ng gulay sa mga pamilihan (We are seeing the gradual drop in prices. This price decline means the volume of vegetables are reaching the markets),” de Mesa said.
As of November 27, prices of carrots slightly dropped to PHP140 per kilogram to PHP200/kg range from PHP140/kg to PHP240/kg in November 22; lettuce Romaine, now ranging from PHP150/kg to PHP400/kg from PHP190/kg to PHP400/kg; as well as green ice lettuce with peak price set at PHP390/kg, slightly lower than the PHP400/kg level.
Prices of Baguio beans, pechay Baguio, cauliflower, and celery, however, remain elevated.
Meanwhile, de Mesa said lowland vegetable production is still recovering.
However, slight price drops have been also monitored in select lowland vegetables including eggplant, which price now ranges from PHP140/kg to PHP200/kg, lower than the PHP150/kg to PHP230/kg in November 22; tomato with the lowest price now pegged at PHP120/kg from PHP150/kg; and bitter gourd, with peak price set to PHP200/kg from PHP210/kg.
The DA is also studying to either source vegetable supply in alternative areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, or import a limited volume of vegetables. (PNA)