Cold spell benefits 'ukay-ukay' traders

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya – While farmers and fishermen in Cagayan Valley may all be in downcast faces with the ongoing cold spell, another group of people are all smiles because of it: vendors of ukay-ukay or used clothes.

As a result of the all-time temperature low of 10 degrees Celsius in some parts of the region, imported second-hand clothes, mostly of the bulkier kind made of wool or heavy cotton, have been selling like hotcakes here.

Meanwhile, five people aged at least 50 in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and this province reportedly died over the week as a result of the extremely cold weather.

According to ukay-ukay vendors, there has been a sudden rage among residents for sweaters, jackets, overalls, slacks, shawls, bonnets and other types of clothes intended to keep one warm.

On the other hand, farmers here feared a looming shortage in the supply of vegetables and other crops due to the prolonged cold spell, which causes flowers and leaves to wilt.

Normally having a mild climate, this province has been experiencing a cold spell that has seen the temperature dropping to almost single-digit levels similar to that of Baguio City and Benguet province.

This was particularly true in the province’s upland areas of Kayapa, Ambaguio, Kasibu, Santa Fe and Diadi.