MANILA, Philippines — The retail price of tomatoes in Metro Manila has increased by 100 percent after it reached as high as P180 per kilo compared to P90 per kilo a week ago.
The spike in the retail price of tomatoes was attributed to the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Enteng in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.
The Department of Agriculture reported a total loss of P31.13 million in high value crops, 358 affected hectares and 755 metric tons of production loss.
Prior to the devastation of Enteng, dumping of tomatoes was reported in Nueva Vizcaya in the latter part of September 2024.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has vowed to limit the dumping of tomatoes next year and solve the fluctuating retail prices of farm products with the construction of big cold storages in the country.
He said that 40 to 50 percent of the harvested high value crops are being dumped because of lack of enough cold storage facilities.
“Prices should be more stable. There will be no fluctuation if there is cold storage and the wastage will be lessened,” he added.