Buyers stock up for Holy Week at Balintawak Market

Shoppers flocked to the Balintawak Market in Quezon City on Maundy Thursday to stock up on food and ingredients for the rest of the Holy Week.

But retailers of fish and vegetables, which are usually in high demand during the Lenten season, say sales are not as brisk as they would want them to be.

“Noong nakaraang taon, nakaubos naman kami lahat. Ngayon, walang namimili,” vegetable retailer Rowena Ringanate told GMA Integrated News.

“Matumal din. Mataas pa rin po yung isda namin. Mahal pa rin po,” fish retailer Ligaya Joaquin added.

Some retailers of bangus have retained their prices at P200/kilo even though traders have increased their prices from P180/kilo to P190/kilo.

Tilapia is at P130/kilo while small galunggong is at P100/kilo.

Tahong or mussel prices also increased from P70/kilo to P100/kilo.

“We project the production to increase April to May. The uptrend in price will end after Easter Sunday. This price increase occurs during the Lenten Season only,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista told GMA Integrated News.

“We have enough supply. Wholesale price is stable,” Evangelista added. — BM, GMA Integrated News