The Department of Agriculture (DA) is investigating the supply of red onion in the country after it was reported that its market price per kilo had reached P300.
According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, based on their monitoring, the sale of red onions has reached P280 per kilo, and some are selling for P300 per kilo.
Evangelista said they are contacting the Bureau of Plant Industry to find out the root cause of the increase in the price of red onions.
“Hinihintay po natin ang report mula sa Bureau of Plant Industry base sa mga inventories sa mga cold storage facilities,” said Evangelista.
(We are waiting for the report from the Bureau of Plant Industry based on the inventories in the cold storage facilities.)
The government still has no plans to import red onions because farmers in the country still have red onions to harvest in December.
He said the office would ensure that the harvested red onions can meet the demand of the people, especially since the Christmas season is approaching. It is an important ingredient in cuisines.
Evangelista explained that in government Kadiwa stores, the price of red onions is only P200 per kilo.
Price of red onion reaches P300 per kilo
Last week, agriculture undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said the government is considering importing 7,000 metric tons of red onions.
As prices continue to rise despite the enforcement of a P170 suggested retail price, Panganiban said he has already given the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) the job of determining whether there is a scarcity in the supply of red onions.
The retail price of red onions is between P250 and P280 per kilo, as reported by the DAR’s daily price monitoring.
The DA official assured the public that local production would not be impacted by imports because onion farmers have not yet begun harvesting their crops.
Onions can be planted from October through December and harvested in the months of February and March.
President Rosendo So of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura has already pleaded with the DA to curb the rising cost of red onions.
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