The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the public that prices of agricultural products are expected to remain stable, despite the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha) and the southwest monsoon. “We are not seeing any significant price surges for now, even for vegetables,” said DA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa during a virtual press briefing.
De Mesa noted that while rice production has sustained some damage, most of the affected palay (unhusked rice) is still in its early planting or vegetative stage. He added that high-value crops are likely to recover quickly.
As of Wednesday, losses in the rice sector were reported at 6,703 metric tons, valued at PHP 212.60 million, impacting around 14,842 hectares of rice fields, according to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Operations Center. Damage to high-value crops is estimated at PHP 82.63 million, affecting lowland and upland vegetables, spices, legumes, watermelon, banana, pineapple, papaya, and root crops.
De Mesa clarified that price spikes typically occur when there are challenges in logistics or production supply. “Every typhoon, they are using that as a reason. But we’re assuring them that there’s no stranded or obstructed roads,” he stated. He emphasized that goods are currently moving smoothly, with major routes like Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road, which connect to upland vegetable-producing areas in Baguio and La Trinidad, remaining fully passable.