As many Filipinos have yet to recover from the impact of vegetable supply due to the travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, just this September, the Philippines was hit again by another super typhoon and left massive damage to the agriculture sector, particularly those businesses that deal with vegetables.

According to the public advisory of the Department of Agriculture after Super Typhoon Karding, the catastrophe damaged the agricultural sector amounting to PHP 3.12 billion. Farmers and fisherfolk were the most damaged in the sector, especially those in parts of Luzon and Western Visayas regions.

Moreover, the government agency ranked farmlands that focus on high-value crops such as fruits, vegetables, and spices as the second most affected by the typhoon, taking losses of up to PHP 831.29 million.

Through this, PAGEONE surveyed different individuals residing in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on the prices of commonly used vegetables in Filipino households to know if this would fit an average family budget.

See table below:

The data shows that there was a huge difference in the price of vegetables from the different regions. Commonly, vegetables in Visayas and Mindanao have the lowest prices, which may be a result of the wide space for farmlands. Moreover, the recent typhoon had a major hit on the Luzon region, which caused its agricultural sector to be damaged.

This has urged PAGEONE to launch its online campaign titled “Goolai Vs. Gulay: Educating Homemakers About Alternative Sources Of Nutrition”, which aims to help Filipino homemakers find alternatives to vegetables due to their high prices.

These alternatives are cheap and will still be nutritious for the food that Filipino homemakers want to cook. To get the gist of these alternatives, here are some of the vegetable alternatives.

Talbos ng Kamote and Kangkong

Compared to talbos ng kamote, the price of kangkong in the market ranges from PHP 10 to PHP 60. Even though the talbos ng kamote is high in calcium, kangkong can still be a delicious and nutritious alternative to the Filipino dish ‘Sinigang’ because it contains Vitamin C, which is good for the eyes and skin.

Sitaw and Baguio Beans

The price of Baguio beans ranges from PHP 80 to PHP 100 from Luzon to the Mindanao region. Besides the lower price of it compared to sitaw, it is also high in Vitamin K, which helps an individual have stronger bones.

Broccoli and Malunggay

Compared to broccoli, malunggay can easily grow even in your own backyard! But if not possible, its price range is still cheaper than broccoli’s as it only costs a maximum of PHP 50. Also, malunggay has a richer content of Vitamin A, iron, and calcium compared to broccoli.

Eggplant and Okra

The price of eggplant for all regions is only PHP 60 compared to okra, which has a higher price in the Visayas region. Despite the cheap price, eggplant is still a nutritious alternative to okra because both vegetables are high in dietary fiber and potassium.

Kalabasa and Kamote

The price of kamote or sweet potato, ranges from PHP 25 to PHP 30, compared to kalabasa. The sweet potato can be a healthy alternative to the latter because it is considered a “superfood” that has vitamins to combat the chances of having serious illnesses like cancer and diabetes.

With this, PAGEONE has urged homemakers to make informed decisions and be mindful of the continuous increase in vegetable prices. It is better to know what to serve at your next meal and get the right nutrition without sacrificing your budget.