Flower prices slightly increase ahead of Undas

The prices of flowers have slightly increased one week ahead of the Undas commemoration.

In a "24 Oras" report by Bam Alegre on Tuesday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) went around Dangwa in Manila to inspect the prices of flowers. While they could not regulate the prices of flowers, DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque urged buyers to buy local.

“According to them, mataas din ang kuha nila ng mga bulaklak… hindi naman ganoon kalaki…nag-ikot lang kami to check availability of flowers and for consumers to buy local grown flowers,” Roque said.

(According to them, the cost of acquiring flowers also increased… not by that much… we were going around to check the availability of flowers and for consumers to buy locally grown flowers.)

Some flower types have already increased prices. Flower vendor Michael Bolaño said that Malaysian mums have already risen from P180 to P250, while others remained at regular price.

Here are some of the prices observed in Dangwa:

• Local roses - P250 per dozen
• Imported roses - P600 per 10 pieces
• Carnations - P200 per 10 pieces
• Orchids - P850 per three dozen
• Ready-made bouquet - P700 and above

The DTI also went around supermarkets to check the prices of candles. Some candles with designs started at P150.

“What is important is for the consumers to have a list of these products that are being monitored by the DTI… so these basic necessities and prime commodities, there are 190 products that are in this list. So the list is available on all the social media sites of DTI,” Roque said in a mix of English and Filipino. —Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News