Ahead of Christmas–New Year, VP Gibran Checks Food Prices in Manado

Manado: Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka inspected Bersehati Traditional Market in Manado City, North Sulawesi, on Tuesday to ensure the stability of food prices and supplies ahead of the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year holidays.

The visit was accompanied by North Sulawesi Governor Yulius Selvanus and Manado Mayor Andrei Angouw.

During the inspection, Gibran reviewed market conditions and directly engaged with traders to monitor price developments of key food commodities, including bird’s eye chili, tomatoes, shallots, garlic, fish, and rice.

He also visited several stalls and purchased bird’s eye chili, curly red chili, shallots, and fish as a show of support for local traders.

President Director of Perumda Pasar Bersehati Manado, Lucky Senduk, said the market experienced unusually high activity due to the Vice President’s visit.

“There was strong public enthusiasm, both from visitors and traders, following the Vice President’s inspection,” Senduk said, as quoted from Antara, Tuesday, 23 December 2025.

According to Senduk, traders welcomed the visit, viewing it as a sign of the government’s concern for both their livelihoods and the availability of basic necessities for the community.

He added that commodity prices at Bersehati Market remain generally stable. Although some price increases have occurred ahead of the holiday season, they remain within reasonable limits and follow normal market dynamics.

Currently, bird’s eye chili is priced at around Rp45,000 per kilogram, tomatoes at Rp6,000 per kg, shallots at Rp65,000 per kg, and garlic at Rp40,000 per kg.