Typhoon Pedring drives up prices of vegetables in NCR

In the wake of the devastation brought by Typhoon Pedring (Nesat) to Northern Luzon, vegetable prices in markets in Metro Manila went up Thursday. In several markets, prices of lettuce, cauliflower and celery have gone up, according to a report on dzBB radio. In Balintawak Market in Quezon City, the report said prices of lettuce and cauliflower went up from P80 to P120 a kilo. Prices of celery almost doubled, from P40 to P75 a kilo. A separate report by dzBB's Allan Gatus quoted Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup as saying the DA's monitoring of prices in 21 markets showed a price increase in several vegetables. The report quoted Salacup as saying 60 percent of Metro Manila's vegetable supply comes from Cordillera, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon – Pedring lashed all these areas early this week. He also said only 30 of the usual 60 trucks bringing vegetables from Northern Luzon to Metro Manila managed to reach markets in Metro Manila due to the closure of several roads. — LBG, GMA News