Onion prices may drop to P100-P150 per kilo amid importation —DA exec

With more supply coming after Malacañang allowed its importation, the price of onion in the market is seen to drop to P100 to P150 per kilo, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Mariz Umali on Tuesday, DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said the imports should arrive on or before January 27 so as not to coincide with the harvest season of local onion growers next month.

“From now until the 27th, ang tinitingnan natin, bababa ang presyo dahil ang sinasabi ko nga we have to address also the inflation ng red onions....Kailangan nating magbigay din ng limit kung kailan at kung [ilan] ang volume dahil naman sa proteksyon natin sa ating mga magsasaka,” he said.

“Dapat hindi siya bumaba dun sa cost of production ng ating mga magsasaka.  The cap siguro from P100 to P150,” he added.

Several farmers in some parts of the country, however, are dismayed over the decision to import as they have started to harvest the bulb. They said they might find it hard to recover their cost of production if prices of the imported onions will be too low.

"Tumaas na noon kaya lang hindi pwede hukayin ito eh ngayon. At mababa eh, hindi na kami makakabawi," a farmer said.

Some farmers also called on the administration to focus on providing assistance to their needs.

“Sabi nila mahal yung sibuyas. Hindi naman nila iniisip mahal na gamot at abono," Rogel Santiago, a farmer, said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. greenlighted the importation of 21,060 metric tons of red and white onions to arrest its soaring prices.

The DA said 50% of the imported onion products will be distributed to Luzon while Visayas and Mindanao will receive 25% each. 

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman will investigate the DA and the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) over their alleged purchase of onion products from a cooperative for P537 per kilo.

The DA said it is open for the probe. GMA Integrated News reached out to the FTI for comment but it has yet to respond. —Sundy Locus/LDF/KG, GMA Integrated News