The prices of highland vegetables increased after a month of continuous rains in Cordillera.

Benguet Farmers Marketing Cooperative has seen a 20%-30% decrease in the bulk of vegetables that reach the La Trinidad Trading Post.

"Siyempre halos lahat ng mga gulay, nasira talaga. Yung mga gulay natin dito sa trading post, mas marami na yung mga second class. Kakaunti na yung talagang top quality because of the continuous rain," said Agot Balanoy, Manager of Benguet Farmers Marketing Cooperative.

(Almost all the vegetables were spoiled. The vegetables in the trading post, most of them were second class. Top quality was very rare because of continuous rain.)

The Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division of Department of Agriculture-Cordillera noted a P2-P15 per kilo increase in the wholesale price of Chinese cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, celery, snap beans, and sayote.

The price almost doubles as the products reach the market.

Carrots - P130-P140 (from P90-P100 in the trading post or bagsakan)
Chinese cabbage - P50-P60 (from P45-P55 in the trading post or bagsakan)
Iceberg lettuce - P240-P250 (from P120-P130 in the trading post or bagsakan)
Cauliflower - P100-P120 (from P80-P90 in the trading post or bagsakan)
Celery - P180-P250 (from P175-P185 in the trading post or bagsakan)
Snap beans - P60-P70 (from P20-P30 in the trading post or bagsakan)
Sayote - P40-P50 (from P36-P38 in the trading post or bagsakan)

“Kung diretso nilang kinuha dito, dapat mas nakakamura sila. Pero pag lumipat na kasi sa ibang middleman, bago sa ibang retailer, yun na ang nagiging problema,” said Balano.

(If they directly get it here, they would get it at a lower price. But if they move it because there are middlemen before the retailers, that will be a problem.)

STATE OF CALAMITY

The Office of Civil Defense Cordillera reported P94.834 million in agriculture and aquaculture damage in the region.

Due to this, Benguet Gov. Crescencio Pacalso will be asking the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare a state of calamity in the province.

This will authorize the local government to use 30 percent of its calamity fund, which will be used for infrastructure repairs and farm subsidy.