Cold spell

By Tony Quidangen, Bandera, 22 January 2002

BAGUIO City -- The cold weather here and nearby La Trinidad, Benguet has taken a toll on vegetable farmers as experts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the spell would last until the last week of February.

Benguet provincial agriculturist Lolita Bentrez said more than 200 hectares of vegetable farms planted to cabbage, carrots, potato, and other upland vegetables in the towns of Kibungan, Buguias, Atok and Mankayan had been "burned" black by the icy weather.

"Madali kasing matuyo ang mga dahon ng gulay na tinatamaan ng makapal na andap," Bentrez said. "Andap" is the native term for frost. Bentrez said an inch-thick frost had covered vegetable leaves last month.

Frost had hit the leaves, especially the newly-transplanted seedlings.  After the thaw, the leaves turned black and wilted, resulting to losses to the farmers. Bentrez recalled that vegetable farmers in the province suffered the same fate about 10 years ago. Vegetable dealers on the other hand said the cold weather had already affected their business.  "It is like bad weather in the rainy season," a dealer said.

Victor Calimlim, president of the Baguio market vendors Association, earlier said that the sale of highland vegetables had been reduced due to the cold weather.