BY CHELSEA JEAN C. VALENTOS & ROSELYN B. DIAZ/DNSC Interns
PRICES of several local fruits such as durian, mangosteen, and pomelo have increased at Magsaysay Fruit Stand and Bankerohan Public Market due to limited supply, while sales remain slow despite the ongoing Araw ng Dabaw 2026 celebration.
Renie Tabalog, a fruit vendor from Bankerohan, shared that mangosteen remains expensive even though some supply is still available in the market.
Mangosteen is currently being sold at around P190 to P200 per kilo, although some smaller ones are priced at about P150 per kilo, depending on their size and quality.
Meanwhile, pomelo is sold at around P90 per kilo, with some vendors offering it for as low as P60 per kilo.
Among the three fruits, durian continues to be the most sought-after by both tourists and local buyers.
“Prices are really high because fruits are scarce right now. Even if there is mangosteen available, it’s still expensive, while pomelo is slightly cheaper,” Tabalog said.
Durian prices vary depending on the variety. For instance, puyat is currently sold at P150 per kilo, while the arancillo variety is priced at around P120 per kilo.
Tabalog added that durian remains the most in-demand fruit in the market, especially among tourists visiting the city.
He emphasized that sellers only add a minimal markup since the prices mainly depend on the cost set by their suppliers.
Despite the higher prices of durian, mangosteen, and pomelo, Tabalog said market sales remain slow compared to previous Araw ng Dabaw celebrations.
With the durian supply gradually running out, vendors believe its price could increase further in the coming days.
