Prices of agri products up after Paeng onslaught - DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday reported increases in the prices of agricultural commodities after Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) hit parts of the country last weekend.
 
DA spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista did not elaborate on the price movements but said that retail prices in Metro Manila have been affected by the lower volume being delivered to trading posts across the country.
 
“Sa ating trading post po medyo bumaba ‘yung mga dinadala, ‘yung volume na dinadala na ating mga produkto dahil nga po dun sa mga dinadaanan,” she said during a public briefing.
 
“With that, we are working closely with the local government units (LGUs) and hopefully, ‘yung ating trading po, both the volume and the prices sa trading post po will go back to pre-typhoon (levels) para po ‘yan will also help us try to stabilize the prices,” Evangelista added.
 
(There has been a decrease in the volume of goods being shipped to the trading post because of the damaged roads. With that, we are working closely with the LGUs, and hopefully trading — both in volume and prices — will go back to pre-typhoon (levels) to help us try to stabilize the prices.)
 
DA data as of Wednesday afternoon showed that damage and losses due to Paeng have climbed to P2.74 billion, up from P1.33 billion as of Monday afternoon.

For its part, the Department of Trade and Industry said there is enough supply of basic necessities, and it is working with the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers to ensure that commodities are replenished timely and constantly.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation 84 on Wednesday, declaring a state of calamity in Regions IV-A (Calabarzon), V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). — VBL, GMA News