Prices of highland vegetables, especially those from the Cordilleras, went up in markets in Metro Manila in the wake of Tropical Storm Mina (Nanmadol), which battered northern Luzon over the weekend. But Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup said Tuesday they expect prices of these items to "normalize" before this week ends. "Sa ibang retail markets umangat kaunti (ang presyo). We expect this to normalize in two to three days (In many retail markets, we have noticed a price hike. But we expect the prices to normalize in two to three days)," Salacup said in an interview on dzBB radio. In a separate interview on dwIZ radio, Salacup said the DA is to send price monitoring teams to markets to see if the price adjustments are reasonable. He urged consumers to report unreasonable price hikes to the market administrators or to the DA. He said the DA’s hotlines are:
9202216 (landline) 0919-5841252 (mobile phone) ?May monitors kami sa palengke. If needed, we will impose the Price Act para mabawasan ang nananamantala (We will have monitors in the markets. If needed we will impose the Price Act to thwart profiteers)," he said. Under the Price Act (Republic Act 7581) passed in 1992, illegal price manipulation is punishable by imprisonment of between five and 15 years, and a fine of P5,000 to P2 million. Those violating the price ceiling face imprisonment of one to 10 years, or a fine of P5,000 to P1 million. Section 6 of the Act also allows prices of basic necessities in an area to "automatically be frozen at their prevailing prices or placed under automatic price control" when that area is proclaimed or declared a disaster area or under a state of calamity or under an emergency. "If the prevailing price of any basic necessity is excessive or unreasonable, the implementing agency may recommend to the President the imposition of a price ceiling for the sale of the basic necessity at a price other than its prevailing price," the law added. Also under the law, the President, upon the recommendation of the implementing agency, or the Price Coordinating Council, may impose a price ceiling on any basic necessity or prime commodity. Closed roads in northern Luzon blamed A report by radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen said that in the Libertad Market in Pasay City, vendors blamed the closed roads from northern Luzon for the price hikes for many vegetables. The report said prices of many vegetables, especially those from Baguio City, more than doubled as of Tuesday. These included: onion leeks, from P80 to P180 a kilo bell pepper, from P60 to P130 a kilo green bell pepper, from P80 to P170 a kilo lettuce, from P60 to P100 a kilo sayote, from P15 to P25 a kilo pechay Baguio, from P30 to P55 a kilo Even prices of some fish like galunggong went up from P110 to P130 a kilo; dalagang bukid from P120 to P140 a kilo; hasa-hasa from P120 to P140 a kilo; tawilis from P80 to P90 a kilo; and shrimp from P280 to P300 a kilo. However, prices of cauliflower remained “normal" at P110 a kilo; broccoli at P100 a kilo. Prices of fish like bangus and tilapia remained stable at P120 and P85 per kilo respectively. Salacup cited reports from the Department of Agriculture’s regional offices showing the artery roads leading to production sites were affected by landslides triggered by “Mina." He said this affected the supplies reaching the La Trinidad Trading Post. Vegetable suppliers from other areas Salacup said DA Secretary Proceso Alcala called on vegetable suppliers from other areas of the country including Northern Mindanao to help fill the supply gap. “Ang sa Northern Mindanao, ready i-ship ang gulay sa Mega Manila (Vegetable suppliers in Northern Mindanao are ready to ship their produce to Mega Manila)," he said. — RSJ, GMA News 
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