THE prices of flowers in Cagayan de Oro City have increased as people stormed the flower shops ahead of Valentine's Day.
Flower vendors located in the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral said the prices of their flowers, especially the roses, have increased as some of the flower planters also raised their rates.
They added that apart from the demand of flowers this Valentine's Day, another factor for the rise in prices was because of the decrease in the harvest of flowers due to the rainy weather experienced last month that destroyed some of the planters' flowers.
"Mas nimahal karon kay tungod bitaw sa sitwasyon nga minus ang production sa roses, nimahal gyud sya. Siguro tungod tingali sa panahon bitaw nga grabe kainit ug tong niagi, di ba nag ulan-ulan," Maryjane Ministerio, owner of Nic-Nic Flower Shop said.
Ministerio added that the prices of her flowers increased by around 30 percent.
For a single, wrapped rose, Ministerio said it will cost P50; three roses cost P150; while a dozen of roses with a dozen of chocolates is sold for P1,500.
Likewise, Suzette Velez Flower Shop also increased the prices of their flowers.
"Tanan nga mga bulak nag increase gyud basta Valentine's Day," Suzette Velez, the owner of the said flower shop, said.
They are also selling flower bouquets with chocolates and stuffed bears or pandas which cost P500.
Flower vendors near the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene also increased the prices of their flowers.
According to Ramon Tuico, a flower vendor, a dozen of roses cost P400 to P450 now from the previous P100 to P150 level.
Merilyn Pecore, another flower vendor near the Black Nazarene Shrine, sells a dozen of roses for P250 from the previous price of P150.