Prices of imported red and white onions have gone up by P40 to P70 per kilo at a public market in General Santos City.

Imported red onions are now sold at P230 per kilo, up by P70 from P160 per kilo in the previous month.

White onions, on the other hand, now cost P120, or P40 higher compared to the previous price of P80 per kilo last month.

Vendors said the increase in prices is due to limited supply.

“Ngayon nagtaas na talaga, taas na ang bigay nila…konti lang supply,” a vendor, Bibiin Apolonio, said.

Consumers expressed concern about the increase in prices.

“Pag peak season like Christmas, sobrang mahal na ‘yan… baka mag-doble na yung price… same sa amin mga consumer sobrang maapektuhan,” a consumer, Laicca Dela Salde, said.

“Pag namili kayo ng early, baka masira din,” another consumer, Donabelle Deguma, added.

However, prices of other vegetables like carrots went down. Carrots are now sold at P80 per kilo, down by P40 from its previous price of P120 per kilo.

Prices of pork also decreased. Pork belly and lean meat are sold at P340 per kilo from P380 per kilo.

Vendors said the decrease is due to the lower farm gate prices caused by stable supply.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier announced that a suggested retail price (SRP) for vegetables and meat will be implemented starting December 1, 2025.

According to the Meat Vendors Cooperative in the city, the move is welcome as long as it benefits both vendors and consumers.

“Yung sinasabing SRP is reasonable both on the consumer side and retailer side para di naman masyadong maapektuhan ang bawat isa,” Meat Vendors Cooperative Chairman, Reynato Mosqueda, said.

The Office of the City Agriculturist has yet to issue a statement, as of this writing, pending the release of guidelines for the SRP implementation from the DA.