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LESS
than a month after Typhoon Frank ravaged Luzon and the
Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said
another weather disturbance is threatening the
Philippines.
This, as
the prices of vegetables, especially from producer areas
still recovering from Frank’s onslaught, were reported
higher by government price monitors; the same with
certain types of fish, the supply of which has been
disrupted by a fishing ban in the Visayas after Frank
caused the sinking of a ship that carried, besides 800
people, cargo of 10 tons of the highly toxic pesticide
endosulfan.
On the
whole, however, fish prices were reported steady except
for alumahan, which increased by P20 per kilogram.
While
the new disturbance has not yet developed into a strong
typhoon, Pagasa warned residents in low-lying areas and
near mountain slopes in Luzon to take precautions
against possible flash floods and landslides as Tropical
Depression Helen intensifies the southwest monsoon.
As of 11
a.m. Monday, Pagasa said Tropical Depression Helen has
maintained its strength and is almost stationary.
It was
spotted 360 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, and was
moving west at a very slow pace. The tropical depression
packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour
near the center.
By
Thursday morning, it is expected to be at 120 kilometers
east of Basco, Batanes.
No
public-storm warning signal has yet been raised over any
area in the Philippines.
Pagasa,
however, urged the public and the disaster coordinating
councils to take steps to ensure the safety of residents
in affected areas.
Metro
Manila residents were told to expect heavy rains over
the next few days.
Meanwhile, the price monitor of the Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics (BAS), an attached agency of the
Department of Agriculture, noted that ampalaya and
eggplant were priced higher by P5 and P10, respectively,
at wholesale markets. Retail prices, however, went up by
P10 per kilogram.
The
agency traced this to the decline in the volume of
deliveries from July 3 to 10. The volume of highland
vegetables was reduced, as the areas where they are
sourced were ravaged by recent typhoons.
As for
temperate vegetables, BAS said retail prices quoted by
wet markets are stable.
As for
commercial rice, BAS claimed that prices went down by P1
for regular milled rice, and P2 for premium rice.
Prices
of other basic commodities like sugar, bottled cooking
oil, were stable. BAS said the average prices of meat
and poultry products also remained at old levels. |
