THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has raised the maximum suggested retail price (SRP) of red onions to P150 per kilo from P120, effective Thursday, December 11, as rising import costs continue to push market prices higher. The adjustment follows increased export prices from major suppliers and added pressure from the weaker peso.
The SRP for yellow onions will remain at P120 per kilo, with the DA citing stable supply and earlier computations showing that the current cap still provides healthy margins for industry stakeholders.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the revised price ceiling is grounded in both international and domestic market realities. “The adjustment reflects market dynamics. I have received information from international sources and local importers about increases in the prices of red onion from their origin,” he said, noting that China, Holland and India have all reported higher export prices.
He added that currency weakness has further amplified import costs. “The weakness of the peso against the US dollar is also part of the equation,” he said.
Tiu Laurel urged market players to comply with the updated SRP, especially with demand expected to rise during the holiday season. “We are hoping everyone will cooperate to ensure stable prices and supply given the demand during the Christmas season,” he said.
The DA chief also stressed the need to diversify the country’s onion sources, pointing out that China currently dominates the Philippines’ import supply. “We do not want to be dependent on just one source,” he said, adding that the government is scouting alternative suppliers to build a more resilient and competitive supply chain.
Tiu Laurel reiterated that all onion importation will cease by January, ahead of the domestic harvest beginning in February to protect local onion producers. He said this schedule is intended to prevent imported stocks from suppressing farmgate prices and to support local farmers during the crucial harvest period.
The DA expects that the revised SRP, combined with broader sourcing strategies and tighter import management, will help stabilize onion prices and ensure a steady supply in the coming months.
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