Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the elevated prices of vegetables might stabilize within two weeks. This statement follows the DA's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center's report on significant agricultural damage amounting to 53,356 metric tons, valued at PHP2.34 billion. The agricultural losses were attributed to the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Emong, Dante, and Crising.
According to Philippines News Agency, the damage includes PHP421.95 million in losses for high-value crops such as various vegetables, spices, legumes, watermelons, bananas, pineapples, papayas, and root crops. In a phone interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa expressed optimism that vegetable prices may adjust as the weather improves.
De Mesa stated, "Hopefully, there will be no more incoming storms for the moment. It will eventually recover again, in one week to two weeks." He noted that vegetable prices tend to move quickly, with some price adjustments already underway.
As of July 25, the DA-Bantay Presyo reported price increases for several vegetables: bitter gourd at PHP140 per kg., up from PHP127; string beans at PHP120 per kg., up from PHP114; pechay tagalog at PHP100 per kg., up from PHP88; squash at PHP60 per kg., up from PHP51; eggplant at PHP140 per kg., up from PHP123.86; bell pepper at PHP200 per kg., up from PHP192.18; and cabbage at PHP80 per kg., up from PHP74.22. De Mesa mentioned that reasonable price spikes might range from a 10 to 15 percent increase, currently observed in some vegetables.
