LANDSLIDES in several areas in Benguet have affected the transportation of vegetables to different trading centers in the province.

Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin said the Gov. Bado National Road in Gambang Cuba is closed sometimes due to landslide.

He said personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are closely monitoring the area, with two backhoes conducting clearing operations.

Fermin appealed to the public for their understanding as they are securing the safety of stakeholders traversing the national road.

He said with the heavy rains and destroyed roads, transportation and delivery of goods pose a challenge.

"Farmers manually transfer their produce in one elf on the other side of the road with men on standby to carry the vegetables," he said.

Classes in all levels were suspended Thursday, August 15, in Kapangan, Itogon, and Kabayan in Benguet, while classes in pre-school to high school level were suspended in Kibungan, Mankayan. Classes in pre-school to elementary level were suspended in Tublay, La Trinidad, Atok and Bokod.

Prices of vegetables at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) on Wednesday, August 14, remain stable. Potatoes are sold at P20 to P82 per kilo, cabbage scorpio from P9-P14, Chinese cabbage at P15-P25, chayote at P6-P17, long radish from P10-P30, celery at P25-P30, carrots at P20-P28, and lettuce at P45-P100.

On Thursday, August 15, prices of cabbage scorpio was at P17-P21, potato granola at P25-P60, broccoli at P50-P85, chayote at P12-P13, carrots at P25-P30, long radish at P20-P32, and celery P10-20.

At the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post, price of rareball cabbage ranges from P15 to 20, potatoes at P40-P50, wombok at P15-P25, and carrots at P20-P35.

The nearby provinces of Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan and La Union trade vegetables in both BAPTC and La Trinidad trading post.

The DPWH said Kennon Road is still closed to traffic. It advised motorists to take the Marcos Highway, Baguio-Bauang Road, or Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual Road.