Retail price of red onions soar to P300 per kilo
Retail red onion prices in Metro Manila are now P300 per kilo, up from P180 per kilo a year ago, although the Department of Agriculture (DA) would not comment on whether there is a shortage of supply.
According to Kristine Evangelista, assistant secretary for agriculture, prices for red onions in the capital region ranged from P280 to P300 per kilogram.
“Based on our monitoring of the markets, we have observed a spike in the price of red onion,” Evangelista disclosed at the Laging Handa public briefing. She added that the DA was coordinating with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to determine the reason behind the surge.
According to Evangelista, farmers should start harvesting their crops between the second and final week of December, which could lessen the upward pressure on prices.
Evangelista also assured that in the case of white onions, they were connecting regional farmers directly to institutional purchasers so that they could sell their produce.
Meanwhile, according to Evangelista, the DA is expanding the number of Kadiwa locations where customers can purchase onions for just P170 per kg.
On Nov. 16, the Kadiwa ng Pasko was introduced simultaneously across the nation and showcased foods and goods produced by micro, small, and medium-sized businesses.
Netizens bearing the brunt of rising onion prices could not hide their anger at the seeming inaction of the government to remedy the problem. A few also suspect that the price manipulation and artificial shortages could be some of the reasons behind the skyrocketing price of onions.
