Palace: Marcos wants meeting after imported onions sold for P180-P200 a kilo

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered a meeting of stakeholders after the Department of Agriculture noticed that imported onions were being sold at P180 to 200 a kilo.

The DA is looking to achieve P170 for a kilo of onions in 2023, even in certain months when they will be sold for P80 a kilo.

"The President has ordered a stakeholders’ meeting on Monday with importers, traders, retailers, and farmers to discuss the price since the DA price monitoring team saw imported onions being sold at P180 - 200 per kg," Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.

The Bureau of Plant Industry earlier said onions recently imported by the government have already arrived in the country.

With this development, the price of onion is expected to go down with the increase in supply.

Reports said some are hoping that the DA's pronouncement that the price of onions will go down to P80 per kilo happen soon.

Earlier this month, the DA gave the green light for the importation of 21,060 metric tons of onions to fill a supply gap and arrest the continuous spike in the price of the commodity in the market.

The volume allowed for importation is broken down as follows:

•   Fresh yellow onion - 3,960 metric tons
•   Fresh red onion - 17,100 metric tons

Licensed importers have been given until January 27, 2023, for their shipments to arrive in the country. —NB, GMA Integrated News