LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Governor Nestor Fongwan assured flower supply for All Souls' Day and Saints' Days will be enough.
Fongwan said the good weather the past weeks have helped flower farmers recuperate from the twin storms, which passed through the province.
Typhoon Mario and Luis left nine hectares worth of damages to flower farms based in municipal records with 1.9 hectares of blooms still harvestable.
There were also 60 greenhouses totally damaged leaving a decreased harvest for blooms.
Flower farmers scrambled to produce blooms for the anticipated long weekends in November though yield will not be that high with a 20 percent chance of harvest.
Known as Flower Capital of the North, flowers growers here are preparing for a smaller yield in blooms. Rose farmers affected during the heavy rains have reached 635 while chrysanthemum growers are pegged at 36.
Provincial Agriculture Office data shows peak months include November; February, when Valentine’s Day is celebrated as well as the annual Baguio Flower Festival; and March when majority graduates from schools and universities here.
However, Fongwan assured there will be flowers ready for selling from the province saying there was enough time to salvage blooms, which were partially damaged by the storms.
In La Trinidad, Barangay Bahong is considered as the center of the local cut-flower industry in this part of Benguet with cut-flower-producing barangays of this town, such as Ambiong and Alno.
Almost 60 percent of the revenue is from cut flower production, almost 20 percent is from vegetable production, and the remaining 10 percent is from strawberry production.
Farmer's plant flowers 3 ½ to 4 months before the peak seasons like Valentine's Day, All Saints' Day and Christmas Day.