The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday assured close monitoring of the production and prices of vegetables and other agricultural commodities as the country deals with the scorching summer.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier predicted 43 to 44 degrees Celsius heat indexes in several areas in Cavite, Metro Manila, Batangas, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Isabela, Mindoro, and Zamboanga del Norte.

“Lahat naman po ay tinututukan natin kasi dahil po sa init ng panahon, lahat po ng ating agricultural commodity maaari po siyang maapektuhan but lalung-lalong na po iyong ating mga (We are focusing on all commodities because of the dry season, all of our agricultural commodities may be affected but most especially the) high value crops (HVC), iyong mga gulay (the vegetables),” DA deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Joycel Panlilio said in an interview.

She said most HVCs are sourced from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos and Cagayan Valley.

Panlilio assured preventive actions against potential agricultural damage due to extreme heat.

“We make sure po na meron tayong mga interventions na binibigay para maiwasan po itong effect ng pag-init ng ating panahon (that we have interventions being implemented to prevent the effects of the hot weather),” Panlilio said.

She said the preventive measures include the utilization of plastic mulch as vegetable beds, a small pump irrigation system, drip water fertigation technology, and adequate rainwater reserve in rainwater shelters.

For poultry and livestock, Panlilio said animals must be protected from extreme heat exposure.

“Iyong mga animals ay sisiguruduhin po natin nasa tamang mga shelter sila para hindi naman po sila masyadong ma-expose sa heat na maaaring mag-cause din po sa kanila ng sakit (We will ensure that our animals are in proper shelters so they will not be exposed to heat which can cause them disease),” she said. (PNA)