ANDAP (frost) Season hits Atok, Benguet; vegetable farms at risk

Atok, Benguet — Several vegetable farms in Atok have been covered in frost as temperatures drop in the highlands, with ice already forming on crops, particularly during the early mornings—marking the start of the frost season in the province.

In Facebook posts shared by locals, some fields can be seen already blanketed in frost, raising concerns over possible damage to crops.

Locally known as “andap” in the high mountains of the Cordillera, this common seasonal phenomenon in high-altitude areas such as Atok occurs mainly during the cold months from December to February, when the northeast monsoon (Amihan) brings lower temperatures.

Crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, and beans are most vulnerable during this season, while cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, and radish are relatively more resilient.

Farmers were advised to remain alert, as Atok is part of Northern Benguet—a region that supplies nearly 85 percent of the country’s highland vegetables.

Local officials also urged farmers to take precautionary measures, such as covering plants during cold mornings, sprinkling water on crops before sunrise, or placing vegetable gardens under protective structures to shield them from extreme cold. These practices, combined with farmers’ experience in dealing with andap, help reduce crop losses during the cold months.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recorded the lowest temperature at 12.1 degrees Celsius at its Agromet Station in La Trinidad.