Garlic prices push cost in Boracay Island as well

Posted June 23, 2014

Written by Bert Dalida

Garlic is now retailed at more than P300 a kilo in Boracay Island, causing households and restaurants to cut down on the use of these condiments.

Indeed, according to a chef in one cooking service at D’Talipapa Boracay, they just have merely over a kilo budget compared to its cheaper price before it extends.

“Basically, we need garlic as condiments in different specialty such as butter garlic shrimps, garlic butter crabs, garlic rice and other pan-fried foods specifically popular among tourists.” It says.

Furthermore, whole seller / retailer (s) also confirmed that they do not have a choice but to sell a whole piece of garlic in P15.

Meanwhile, in an effort to temper the price spike, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has arranged sorties of rolling trucks that sell local garlic in key marketplaces.

Based on DA monitoring, in the first quarter of 2014 alone, garlic prices rocketed by 213 percent—or more than thrice—“due to a lower supply of imported garlic and a higher demand from traders.”

However, DA has also convened the National Garlic Action Team to determine the cause of the price spike and come up with solutions.

DA says that “The action team is composed of representatives of the DA High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the academe, and the private sector.”


Translated by Gloria Villas