The Department of Agriculture (DA) will begin enforcing a maximum suggested retail price of P120 per kilo for both red and white onions starting December 1, in an effort to rein in soaring prices as holiday demand increases. Officials say the ceiling is intended to restore balance to a market distorted by tight supply and excessive markups.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. acknowledged that delayed import arrivals have slightly constrained supply but stressed that this does not justify retail prices climbing to more than double their usual level. He noted that recent monitoring by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service found prices spiking to P300 per kilo, a trend he described as bordering on profiteering.
Tiu Laurel explained that imported onions land at roughly P60 per kilo, meaning that a P120 cap still provides sufficient margins for importers, logistics providers, and retailers. AMAS Director Junibert E. De Sagun said retailers were generally supportive during consultations, as long as supply is delivered to them at around P90 per kilo. Food Terminal Inc. has since committed to supplying imported onions at that price, with arrivals expected within two weeks.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for tighter oversight of import volumes to avoid market manipulation and protect local farmers, especially amid reduced planting and weather-related losses. The DA said the objective is to stabilize the onion supply chain through the holidays, ensuring fair treatment for consumers, farmers, and retailers alike.
Source: www.da.gov.ph
