Manila, April 15 -- 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...