The Department of Agriculture has warned prices of vegetables in Metro Manila are expected to increase due to disruptions in supply in the wake of severe tropical storm Maring.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said price points of vegetables will “definitely” increase as Maring damaged P1.7 billion worth of agricultural products.
Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops such as vegetables, livestock, and fisheries.
The storm, DA data showed, brace…affected 56,718 farmers and fisherfolk.
The Agriculture department said the agricultural losses were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN.
Meanwhile, Maring’s death toll rose to 22 yesterday, 17 more possible fatalities still being validated, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
NDRRMC said 16 people were confirmed to be missing, while one more missing person was still being validated.
