Agri dept sees price hikes in vegetables as holiday season nears

MANILA — The Department of Agriculture noted an uptick in the prices of select vegetables and other commodities as the holiday season approaches.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said this is the same trend historically, depending on seasonality. 

“Medyo stable naman po ‘yung mga presyo maliban po for some lowland vegetables katulad ng talong, kamatis at kalamansi, medyo mayroon tayong nakitang pagtaas, mga 20 percent po kumpara sa nagdaang linggo,” Velicaria-Guevarra told state-run media PTV Monday, November 9. 

High-value crops such as carrots and cabbage also posted an increase in prices, according to the agriculture official.

“’Yung ganitong klaseng pagtaas naman po ay kumbaga normal po ito,” she added. 

Velicaria-Guevarra assured strengthened monitoring in various markets and production areas, commonly known as “bagsakan,” in highland and lowland areas.

“’Yung presence po natin talaga dun ay talagang mino-monitor po natin at ine-ensure po natin na kumbaga nakakausap natin kumbaga ‘yung mga magsasaka natin, mga producers natin kung ano ‘yung challenges o issues na kanilang kinakaharap,” she said.