Sales of fruits, veggies up due to H1N1 scare
by Cecille Lardizabal, ABS-CBN News | 06/27/2009 10:40 PM
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MANILA - At Cash and Carry Supermarket in Makati, fruits like guava, papaya, melon, pomelo, mango, banana and orange, all containing vitamin C, are selling fast these days.
Consumers have become more health conscious due to the A-H1N1 scare.
"Ito kasi ang kailangan ng katawan natin eh...," says one consumer.
At the Makati Supermaket in Alabang, even at Unimart in Greenhills, vegetables with vitamin C such as cabbage, tomatoes, and green leafy vegetables, are also going out fast.
"Bukod sa vitamin C, dinadagdagan ko na rin ng mga ganito (mga gulay)," says another consumer.
Federico Ples, secretary-general of the Philippine Association of Supermarkets says sales of fruits and vegetables with vitamin C went up by 15 percent from April to May.
And during the time that the number of confirmed cases of A-H1N1 has been growing in the Philippines, sales further went up by 10 percent.
"Talagang conscious na ang mga tao ngayon, at yun ang naging blessing," says Ples.
The Department of Health (DOH) says confirmed cases of A-H1N1 flu in the country remained at 861 on Saturday.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque says they be might releasing figures only once in a week to help affected industries.
Duque, meanwhile, was quick to downplay suspicions that his frequent press conferences are part of his political plans.
The secretary is reportedly eyeing a seat in the Senate.
He says the people have a right to know about the impact of A-H1N1 on public health.
Meanwhile, President Arroyo ordered the DOH to set up quick response teams in all areas affected with the A-H1N1 virus.
The president also ordered the Department of Agriculture to help hog raisers whose farm gate prices dropped after the H1N1 virus was first labeled as swine flu.
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