As the Department of Agriculture reported on Wednesday that the country’s supply of onions was only enough for four days, the price of red onions soared to P700 per kilo in several Metro Manila markets.
In a report by Bernadette Reyes on Wednesday’s “24 Oras,” the DA met with onion producers to discuss rising prices and the prospect of importation. As of December 15, the country’s onion supply was only about 2,209.45 metric tons, or enough for four days.
The onion farmers’ association claims that harvesting has begun, which could lead to lower pricing for red onions around the middle of the month of January.
“Malaki po ang ibaba ng presyo ng sibuyas dahil marami na pong magiging ani,” Israel Reguyal, chairman of Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative, said.
“Tayo po ngayon ay dumidiretso sa ating mga onion farmers… This is also our way of protecting them para alam po natin ang fear nila if bumaha ng importation, and we don’t want that,” DA assistant secretary Kristine Evangelista said.
As reported by the DA’s market surveillance, the going rate for a kilogram of onions in the Las Pias area is between PHP500 and PHP720.
Some markets sell red onions for P720 per kilo
The most recent price tracking shows that it is now possible to buy per kilo of pork, poultry, fish, and rice.
Prices for red onions went from P140 in September to P280 in November to P300 from December 12-16 to P380 from December 19-23 to P720 on December 28.
Starting on December 30th, the DA will be working with onion farmers to lower the price at which their product is sold in the market and Kadiwa stores.
Onions worth at least P191 million were reportedly taken from container vans in multiple ports on Wednesday, as reported by Mav Gonzales of “24 Oras.”
The BOC has announced that it is prepared to release the seized onions onto the market.
“The BOC is open to donating it to the Kadiwa stores. Actually it can also be donated to other government agencies that are directly addressing relief operations natin. We leave it to their discretion if they can certify that these products are fit for human consumption,” BOC commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said.
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