Sales of flowers in Dangwa—the space along Laong Laan and Maria Clara in Manila—have dropped as there are fewer people buying due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a report on “Unang Balita” on Tuesday, aired nationwide,several flower vendors lamented their low sales amid the high price of flowers from their suppliers.
The vendors said they expected sales to go even lower as all cemeteries in Metro Manila would be closed from October 29 to November 4 to prevent the further spread of the virus during the observance of All Souls and All Saints Days.
A woman vendor said it was the first time in her 50 years in the flower business that their sales got so low.
Meanwhile, some flower vendors went online to boost sales as e-commerce trends amid the pandemic.
According to a vendor, a lot of buyers now order their bouquets online.
Some of the vendors said they understood the need to close cemeteries as this would help in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who chairs the Metro Manila Council, said police personnel, marshals, and barangay officers would be in the cemeteries to monitor the situation and enforce health protocols.