The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is prepared to impose a price freeze on basic goods and farm products should Typhoon Opong inflict widespread damage and disrupt market stability.
Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria Guevarra announced Thursday that the agency is closely monitoring the storm’s path, with Opong forecast to make landfall and directly impact Metro Manila and other major food supply routes.
“What we can do is monitor prices closely. If the situation after the calamity warrants it, we will not hesitate to enforce a price freeze to prevent abuse, especially in farmgate pricing,” Guevarra told reporters while leading a price inspection at Paco and Dagonoy markets in Manila.
Rising prices even before Opong
Vegetable prices, already elevated in recent weeks, are expected to face further upward pressure if farms in Northern and Central Luzon—key suppliers of produce—are battered by the typhoon. Carrots have remained at P200 per kilo and even spiked to P300 in some markets due to high farmgate prices in Benguet. Tomatoes have also stayed stubbornly high, adding to consumer burdens.
Guevarra said weather-related shocks are almost certain to trigger short-term surges: “Given the current conditions, we definitely expect another round of price hikes.”
Inflation worries
The DA’s move comes amid concerns that food inflation, already sensitive to typhoon damage, could accelerate in the coming weeks. Supply shortages from flood-hit provinces typically cause rapid increases in the prices of vegetables, fish, and other essentials—often feeding into the country’s headline inflation rate.
Analysts warn that with Opong threatening the nation’s key production zones, price controls may become necessary to shield consumers from speculative pricing and profiteering.
A call for vigilance
The DA has urged both retailers and the public to remain vigilant. Market inspections will be intensified in the days following Opong to ensure compliance with fair pricing rules, with penalties for violators once a price freeze is officially declared.
“Protection of both farmers and consumers is our priority,” Guevarra said. “We cannot allow opportunistic pricing to worsen the hardship people already face in times of disaster.”
