Siling labuyo soars to P600 per kilo

MANILA, Philippines —  The retail price of siling labuyo or wild chili has surged to P600 per kilo following the onslaught of tropical cyclones in the Philippines, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Six cyclones hit the country in just five weeks.

Based on the DA’s monitoring, wild chilis’ retail price increased by P50 per kilo, up from P550 per kilo a week ago.

Cyclones Kristine and Leon’s damage to high-value crops amounted to P1.23 billion, covering 10,163 hectares and a volume of production loss of 46,016 metric tons, the DA said.