The Filipino government is considering importing 22,000 tons of onions to stabilize prices in the country. According to DA Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez, the farmgate price of onion is at P120 per kilo, and it is being sold in markets at P200, which he said is still high.
Estoperez added that they are also looking into the 117,000 tons of onions available in cold storages. He noted that the quantity of onions that the government plans to import is based on the information from the Bureau of Plant Industry that the country consumes 22,000 tons of onions a month.
He also added that the Agriculture department is also looking into onion price reference and price cap to stabilize the price of the bulbs. Based on the price monitoring of the DA as of May 16, 2023, local red onion was priced at P160 to P200 per kilo while white onion was sold at P150 to P200 a kilo.
[ P100 = €1.60 ]
Source: manilatimes.net