PEAK PRICE. Tomatoes sell at PHP160 per kilo at Pasig Mega Market in September 2023. The Department of Agriculture on Tuesday (July 2, 2024) said it expects tomato prices to go down in one to two weeks following the influx of newly harvested tomatoes in public markets. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday assured that the soaring retail prices of tomatoes will go down in a week or two following the current harvest.
As of Monday, tomatoes in Metro Manila are being sold at PHP120 to PHP180 per kilo, according to the DA Bantay Presyo (price watch).
"Iyong kamatis, ang harvest ay magdadatingan ang maraming volume (The harvest of tomatoes will come in bulk volumes) in two weeks time so we can expect in one to two weeks, bababa na uli iyong presyo (the prices will drop again)," DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.
De Mesa explained that the current price hike was due to harvest delays in Nueva Vizcaya and the impacts of Typhoon Aghon in May.
"Mayroong konti na na-delay iyong harvest, kagaya dun sa Norte. Pero doon sa ibang area na nagtatanim, Central and Southern Luzon, ay okay naman (We have a slight delay in harvest, like in the North. But in other areas like Central and Southern Luzon, it's okay)," he said.
"Natandaan din natin nagkaroon ng delay dahil sa mga bagyo at saka iyong pag-uulan lalo na dun sa (We can also recall that there have been earlier delays due to typhoons and heavy rains, especially in) Southern Tagalog," De Mesa said.
He added that although market prices of tomatoes are higher during the wet season, the PHP160/kg prevailing average price may already be at the peak.
"Hindi na siguro tataas, ito na iyon, kasi alam nila na marami na rin parating (Prices may no longer go up, this is the peak, because the traders know that more supplies are coming)," he said. (PNA)
