Weather Disruptions Reshape Vegetable Flows and Prices from Farm to Market

This advisory examines the effects of successive weather disruptions in the Philippine vegetable supply chain, including production losses, deterioration and disposal of harvested produce, disruptions in moving vegetables to consumer markets, and changes in prices across market levels. It highlights how weather-related shocks can create localized accumulation at production and trading points while simultaneously contributing to tighter availability and raising prices in downstream markets. The advisory also highlights government and DOST-PCAARRD initiatives addressing supply chain coordination, postharvest losses, commodity movement, and resource recovery.

Source: SERD, DOST-PCAARRD

Agricultural Damage and Losses from Adverse Weather

The agricultural damage and losses from the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat) and Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, Neneng, and Pilandok had reached ₱4.38 billion, affecting 81,511 hectares (ha) and 99,663 farmers and fisherfolk, with 102,791 metric tons (MT) in volume losses, as reported by the Department of Agriculture-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DA-DRRM) on September 8, 2026. High-value crops (HVCs), which include upland and lowland vegetables, accounted for ₱1.38 billion or 31.44% of total agricultural value losses, the second-largest share after rice at 46.69%. HVC losses covered 5,986 ha and 29,742 MT, with the DA reporting 4,093 ha (68.73%) as partially damaged and 1,893 ha (31.63%) as totally damaged.

Table 1. Damage and Losses by Agricultural Commodity Group, as of September 8, 2026

Source: DA-DRRM, Final Bulletin on the Effects of Enhanced Southwest Monsoon and TCs Luis, Maymay, Neneng, and Pilandok, September 8, 2026

The effects on vegetable-producing areas were particularly evident in Benguet. On August 21, 2026, Benguet Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan reported that estimated agricultural damage in the province reached ₱476.78 million, based on reports consolidated from municipal agriculture offices as of August 17, 2026. More than 1,200 ha and 6,000 farmers had been affected, with reported losses involving HVCs, farmland, agricultural machinery and equipment, and infrastructure. The damage is significant for the vegetable sector, given Benguet’s role as a major producer of carrots, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, and other highland vegetables. Damage to these production areas may therefore reduce harvestable output and affect subsequent production cycles, depending on the extent of recovery.

Market Access Disruptions Lead to Losses

• Trading Center Congestion Caused Postharvest Losses

In Benguet, the enhanced southwest monsoon, or Habagat, and successive tropical cyclones disrupted vegetable trading and market movement across major trading centers. Farmer-truck arrivals at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) in La Trinidad, Benguet, rose above the usual daily volume expected in August, according to BAPTC Trading Operations Division Officer-in-Charge Ms. Octavia Ablos. To avoid further losses and transport difficulties from continuing rains and tropical cyclones, some farmers harvested their crops earlier. The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) likewise observed early harvesting among some vegetable producers. Buyer activity also weakened during the period as persistent rains and flooding disrupted access to major downstream markets, particularly Metro Manila. Benguet Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan noted that fewer buyers were arriving while vegetable supply increased, contributing to the accumulation of unsold produce in trading areas. The combination of higher delivery volumes and weaker buyer activity lengthened waiting times to as much as two days. It contributed to the deterioration of highly perishable vegetables before sale.

• Flooding and Landslides Disrupt Market Routes

Heavy rains and flooding from the southwest monsoon disrupted established vegetable delivery routes from Northern Luzon to Metro Manila. Roads leading to Balintawak Market became impassable, prompting truckloads of wombok, carrots, string beans, cabbage, and potatoes from Benguet, Kasibu, and Kayapa to divert to the Nueva Vizcaya Agri-Terminal (NVAT) on August 20, 2026. NVAT General Manager Ivan Kurt Alfaro said the trading center received higher-than-usual vegetable arrivals as trucks originally bound for Balintawak shifted to NVAT. To handle the additional volume, NVAT opened additional unloading bays and cold-storage facilities to reduce deterioration during prolonged waiting. Despite the surge in deliveries, prices at NVAT remained generally stable as buyers from Cagayan, Isabela, and nearby provinces also shifted to the terminal after Balintawak’s temporary closure.

• Delivery Delays Reduce Market Access

Transport disruptions continued into early September as monsoon flooding affected major highways connecting Benguet to Metro Manila. Flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), particularly in San Simon, Pampanga, extended the usual five-hour travel time between Benguet and Metro Manila to as much as 12 hours by September 3, 2026. Lorna Menzi, an adviser of the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area Inc., said the delays caused traders to miss the 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. selling window at Divisoria. At the same time, some buyers from Mindoro and Bicol had already left before deliveries arrived. Rudy Bulawan, president of the Benguet Truckers and Traders Association, reported that only around 15 of the usual 25 trucks departed for Divisoria as orders declined, with the 10 cancelled trips representing around 200,000 kg of vegetables that were not delivered to the market. Continued rainfall and landslides along Benguet mountain roads further slowed movement, increasing the risk of spoilage before vegetables could reach their intended markets.

Table 2. Summary of Documented Vegetable Supply Chain Disruptions, August-September 2026

Sources: GMA News Regional TV (August 17, 2026); DA (August 18-20, 2026 and September 4, 2026); and Philippine Daily Inquirer (September 3, 2026)

Vegetable Prices Across Market Levels

At the producer and trading end, some Benguet farmers faced very low prices as vegetables accumulated and buyer activity weakened. On August 17, 2026, second-class cabbage at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) was reported at only ₱5 per kilogram (kg). On August 24, 2026, a farmer from Bakun could not sell about 2,000 kg of carrots at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post even after the wholesale price fell to ₱3/kg. These conditions limited farmers’ ability to recover production and marketing costs despite having harvests available for sale.

Prices were higher at the NVAT, which received additional deliveries from Benguet, Kasibu, and Kayapa after flooding disrupted routes to Balintawak Market. On August 19, 2026, cabbage sold for ₱35-45/kg, carrots for ₱40-55/kg, string beans for ₱60-80/kg, and potatoes for ₱70-90/kg. NVAT reported that prices remained stable despite increased arrivals, as buyers from Cagayan, Isabela, and nearby areas also shifted to the terminal.

At the retail level in Metro Manila, data from the Department of Agriculture – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) Bantay Presyo price monitoring database showed that prices of several vegetables increased from mid-August through early September, with the largest increases concentrated among highland vegetables. From August 17, 2026 to September 9, 2026, Petchay Baguio recorded the highest increase of 111.21% from ₱102.34/kg to ₱216.15/kg, followed by celery at 102.44% from ₱180.57/kg to ₱365.54/kg, and Romaine lettuce at 96.89% from ₱308.51/kg to ₱607.43/kg. Sayote and Iceberg lettuce also increased by 85.65% and 85.52%, respectively. Sayote increased by 85.65% from ₱64.59/kg to ₱119.91/kg, while iceberg lettuce rose by 85.52% from ₱285.68/kg to ₱530.00/kg. Cabbage varieties also increased significantly, with Rare Ball cabbage up by 82.30% from ₱95.42/kg to ₱173.95/kg, Wonder Ball up 74.93% from ₱97.00/kg to ₱169.68/kg, and Scorpio up 71.36% from ₱94.74/kg to ₱162.35/kg. Table 3 further shows that prices of several vegetables continued to increase through September 9, 2026.

Figure 1. Trend of Average Retail Prices of Selected Vegetables in NCR, August-September 2026

Source: DA, 2026

Table 3. Average Retail Prices (₱/kg) of Selected Vegetables in NCR, August-September 2026

Source: DA Bantay Presyo, 2026

Market validation conducted at the Batong Malake Public Market in Los Baños, Laguna, also showed an increase in estimated retail price ranges from August to the first week of September 2026. Notable increases were observed for patola, from ₱10-20/kg to ₱75-85/kg, sitaw, from ₱80-90/kg to ₱145-165/kg, and siling sigang, from ₱115-120/kg to ₱195-200/kg. Among highland vegetables, Baguio beans increased from ₱95-105/kg to ₱145-155/kg, cabbage from ₱85-90/kg to ₱125-130/kg, and sayote from ₱65-75/kg to ₱95-100/kg. These observations provide local validation that vegetable retail prices also increased outside NCR during the period, particularly for selected highland vegetables.

Government Support and Initiatives

DOST-PCAARRD Initiatives

• Agri-Aqua Business Hub (AABH)

To address recurring constraints in market access, supply chain coordination, and enterprise development in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) established the Agri-Aqua Business Hub (AABH) in 2021 and institutionalized it in 2023. Housed at the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center (DPITC) in Los Baños, Laguna, AABH links the Council’s R&D and enterprise systems through market information, enterprise development, market linkage, and supply chain management. One of the hub’s key services is market linkage which connects farmers and producer organizations with potential buyers and helps align supply, quality, volume, and delivery capacity with market requirements. AABH maintains networks of more than 300 potential markets and over 800 farmer-suppliers. In 2026, it linked an additional 846 farmers from 11 producer organizations and cooperatives to seven identified markets, bringing its cumulative market linkage reach to 2,511 farmers across 21 producer organizations and cooperatives.

AABH also develops and pilots supply chain management (SCM) models with LGUs, state universities and colleges (SUCs), extension providers, industry councils, trading centers, and farmer organizations to improve coordination across production, aggregation, marketing, logistics, and distribution. These activities are complemented by market scanning, monitoring, and advisories. As of 2026, AABH had disseminated 46 market advisories reaching more than 194,000 users. Beyond its direct services, AABH also supports and monitors PCAARRD-funded agribusiness R&D initiatives that translate research into enterprise and market interventions. One initiative particularly relevant to the current vegetable supply chain issue is the AGRI-INNOVATE Program.

• AGRI-INNOVATE Program

Funded by DOST-PCAARRD and led by Dr. Janet Pablo of Benguet State University (BSU), the AGRI-INNOVATE Program addresses persistent supply chain constraints affecting cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and other highland vegetables in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). The program’s four component projects focus on supply chain coordination, waste-to-value agriculture, pre- and postharvest management, and nutrient return for excess and unsold vegetables.

Component Project 1, led by Dr. Cheryll Launio, develops and pilots a supply chain coordination system that links production information with market requirements. The project has established the core structure of a digital vegetable database covering farmer profiles, planting and production schedules, expected harvests, market transactions, prices, and logistics information. It also facilitates farmer-buyer coordination and market linkage as part of the supply chain management system.

As part of these market linkage activities, Project 1 has successfully facilitated two buyer linkages during these periods of supply chain disruption due to extreme weather conditions. One was with DALI Everyday Grocery, a hard-discount grocery retailer operated by Hard Discount Philippines, Inc., and with the Philippine Relief and Development Services, Inc. (PhilRADS). The project also reported a rescue-buy activity in Rosario, La Union. The team is coordinating with Robinsons Supermarket on a potential market linkage.

Component Project 2, led by Dr. Jao-jao Somyden, aims to transform excess and unsold vegetables into value-added products using available S&T technologies. The project has developed initial ready-to-drink vegetable juice formulations and is currently developing frass-based biofertilizer and vermicompost using vegetable surplus and trimmings. Component Project 3, led by Dr. Jemma Rose Kilakil, aims to develop and validate pre- and postharvest protocols for selected highland vegetables to improve quality and reduce losses. The project is conducting field trials on delayed-harvest practices for cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes and has finalized treatments to validate packaging and cold-storage protocols for these commodities.

Component Project 4, led by Dr. Pablo, aims to develop and pilot a nutrient-return program that uses vegetable waste and excess supply as green manure and biofumigants. The project is conducting on-station and on-farm trials in Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao, including incorporating shredded cabbage residues into soil, to assess their effects on soil properties, crop performance, and pest and disease management. The AGRI-INNOVATE Program is expected to be completed by July 2027.

Table 4. AGRI-INNOVATE Response to Supply Chain Constraints

Other Government Initiatives

• Immediate Market and Logistics Support

To address vegetable losses and disrupted market access, DA-CAR provided market linkage assistance, transport support, direct purchasing, and buyer matching. By August 18, 2026, it had assisted 46 farmer cooperatives and associations and facilitated the movement of 32.83 MT of vegetables valued at about ₱1.20 million through KADIWA, transport support, and institutional buyers. In Nueva Vizcaya, DA Regional Field Office 02 implemented a Buy-and-Save operation, purchasing 1,200 kg of Chinese cabbage and 63 crates of tomatoes from farmers at NVAT for sale through KADIWA. In La Trinidad, DA-CAR and BAPTC also secured buyers for 1,270 kg of carrots from five farmers, generating ₱15,350 in gross sales on September 4, 2026.

• Market Monitoring and Coordination

For longer-term market management, DA-AMAS strengthened its market monitoring system to anticipate supply disruptions before vegetables accumulate, spoil, or are sold at distress prices. DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Atty. Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the system will provide alerts on upcoming harvests, weather disturbances, and other developments that may affect the supply chain, supported by regular harvest projections and more timely farmgate price monitoring to trigger logistics and market assistance earlier. The system is also intended to complement regional help desks, improve farmers’ access to KADIWA support, and strengthen coordination with government agencies, institutional buyers, and public programs that can absorb excess highland vegetables.

• Food Conservation and S&T Support

The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) led a consultation and workshop on a proposed Food Conservation Program with vegetable farmers from the Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperatives and Development Center in Baguio City on August 24, 2026. Together with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR), and DA, the initiative explored food processing and preservation, production and market planning, financing, and insurance for unsold vegetables. DOST-CAR presented available food-processing technologies and initiatives such as the AGRI-INNOVATE program for supply chain development and SARAI for science-based weather and crop-production information. At the same time, DA identified financing support through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) and crop insurance through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

Market Outlook

The enhanced southwest monsoon and successive tropical cyclones extended beyond production losses, disrupting trading activities, transport routes, and the movement of vegetables to major markets. These conditions contributed to unsold and deteriorating produce in Benguet, while some vegetables recorded higher prices in downstream markets. In the short term, vegetable markets may therefore continue to experience uneven and volatile prices as affected production areas recover and transport and trading operations normalize. Highly perishable vegetables will remain particularly vulnerable if heavy rainfall, road disruptions, or limited buyer access recur, as these can quickly reduce the volume of marketable produce reaching consumers.

For farmers, the immediate concern is whether they can sell harvest-ready vegetables and and move them to buyers before quality deteriorates. Continued congestion, weak buyer activity, and transport delays may result in low selling prices, unsold produce, and further postharvest losses even when vegetables are available at the farm level. For farmers and farmer organizations, it is recommended to:

• Coordinate harvest volumes and timing with known buyers where possible, particularly when transport disruptions are anticipated.
• Maintain alternative buyer and market contacts to reduce dependence on a single trading route or destination.
• Use collective marketing and aggregation where feasible to improve coordination with buyers and facilitate transport.
• Prioritize postharvest handling practices that preserve quality during periods of prolonged transport or trading delays.

Over the longer term, better production planning based on expected demand, stronger market linkages, improved postharvest handling and storage, and alternative uses for excess produce could reduce farmers’ exposure to recurring gluts and distress selling. These measures could also help farmers retain more value from their harvests during periods when normal market channels are disrupted.

For consumers, retail prices of selected vegetables may remain elevated or volatile in the short term if production losses and distribution constraints continue to limit the quantity and quality of vegetables reaching public markets. Prices may gradually ease as production recovers and transport and trading conditions improve, although the pace of adjustment may differ across commodities. In the longer term, stronger coordination between production and market demand, improved logistics and storage, and better management of excess produce could support more consistent vegetable availability and reduce sharp price movements during future disruptions. Ongoing government measures and DOST-PCAARRD’s AABH and AGRI-INNOVATE Program may contribute to these improvements by strengthening market coordination, postharvest management, value addition, and resource recovery across the vegetable supply chain.

References:

Aglibot, J. R., Quitasol, K., & Sotelo, Y. (2026, September 3). Benguet vegetable traders lose due to NLEx gridlock. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2297938/benguet-vegetable-traders-lose-due-to-nlex-gridlock

Agoot, L. (2026, August 27). DA-CAR: Vegetable supply remains adequate despite rains. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1282803

Asurin, R. (2026, August 27). Gov’t, Cordillera farmers seek ways to curb vegetable wastage. Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://pia.gov.ph/news/govt-cordillera-farmers-seek-ways-to-curb-vegetable-wastage/

Cawis, R. (2026, August 21). Benguet estimates 477M in damage to agriculture, urges farmers to report losses due to inclement weather. Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://pia.gov.ph/news/benguet-estimates-477m-in-damage-to-agriculture-urges-farmers-to-report-losses-due-to-inclement-weather/

Department of Agriculture. (2026, August 18). DA seeks ways to cut vegetable losses amid weather woes. Official Portal of the Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://www.da.gov.ph/da-seeks-ways-to-cut-vegetable-losses-amid-weather-woes/

Department of Agriculture. (2026, August 24). DA sharpens early-warning system to curb vegetable gluts. Official Portal of the Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://www.da.gov.ph/da-sharpens-early-warning-system-to-curb-vegetable-gluts/

Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). 2026 Daily Retail Price Range. DA Bantay Presyo. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://www.da.gov.ph/price-monitoring/

Department of Agriculture–Cordillera Administrative Region. (2026, September 4). DA-CAR, BAPTC facilitate selling of over 1.2 tons unsold carrots. Department of Agriculture–Cordillera Administrative Region. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://car.da.gov.ph/?p=9386

Department of Agriculture–Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center. (2026, September 8). Bulletin No. 17: Effects of Enhanced Southwest Monsoon and TCs Luis, Maymay, Neneng, and Pilandok. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://www.facebook.com/20531316728/posts/10154009990506729/

Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 02. (2026, August 19). DA RFO 02, agad na nagpatupad ng “Buy-and-Save” operations para sa mga magsasaka ng gulay sa NVAT. Cagayan Valley Department of Agriculture Official Website. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://cagayanvalley.da.gov.ph/2026/08/19/da-rfo-02-agad-na-nagpatupad-ng-buy-and-save-operations-para-sa-mga-magsasaka-ng-gulay-sa-nvat/

Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 02. (2026, August 20). Upland vegetable prices remain normal at NVAT despite surge in deliveries as Balintawak closed due to Habagat floods. Cagayan Valley Department of Agriculture Official Website. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://cagayanvalley.da.gov.ph/2026/08/20/upland-vegetable-prices-remain-normal-at-nvat-despite-surge-in-deliveries-as-balintawak-closed-due-to-habagat-floods/

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Salvacio, S. (2026, August 21). Cordillera farmers, traders hit by losses caused by weather disturbances. GMA Regional TV. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/115270/cordillera-farmers-traders-hit-by-losses-caused-by-weather-disturbances/story/

Salvacio, S. (2026, August 24). Unsold carrots dumped, pile up in Benguet. GMA Regional TV. Retrieved September 10, 2026 from https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/115282/unsold-carrots-dumped-pile-up-in-benguet/story/