DA sets SRP for red onions in NCR at P250 a kilo

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday pegged the suggested retail price (SRP) of red onions per kilo in the wet markets in the National Capital Region (NCR)  at P250.

The announcement was made through an administrative circular, "which shall take effect for the remaining days of December 2022 until the first week of January 2023, subject to another stakeholders’ consultation.”

The circular, signed by DA undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, stated that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA No. 7581 empowers and directs the agency, as an implementing agency, issue a SRP for "any or all basic necessities and prime commodities under its jurisdiction for the information and guidance of producers, retailers, and consumers."

“Considering the effects of the rising fuel prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, aggravated by the pandemic cause high prices of agricultural commodities,” it stated.

“In order not to aggravate the current difficulties of the Filipino people affected by the pandemic and rising fuel prices, there is a need to guide the consuming public on the reasonable prices of basic necessities in the market,” it added.

The price of red onions exceeded P700 a kilo in some markets in Metro Manila on Wednesday, in Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report.

Reyes also reported that the Agriculture department held a meeting with onion farmers to address the increasing prices of onions and the possibility of importing the vegetable with the country's dwindling supply.

As of December 15, the supply is only about 2,209.45 metric tons that is enough for only four days.

The price per kilo of onions is already at P500 to P720 in the Las Piñas market, according to the monitoring of the DA.