Department of Agriculture (DA) Sets P120 SRP for Onions to Stop Profiteering and Stabilize Supply

Photo Credit to Getty Image | Department of Agriculture will impose a P120-per-kilo maximum suggested retail price on both red and white onions

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is moving to immediately rein in the soaring cost of onions, imposing a maximum Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of P120 per kilo for both red and white varieties, effective today, December 1.

The decisive move comes as the Christmas season approaches, a period typically marked by rising consumer demand, but also by what officials describe as egregious price hikes that have pushed retail costs to nearly triple normal levels.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. did not mince words when addressing the issue of escalating market prices, which recent monitoring by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) found to be as high as P300 per kilo.

“There may be some tightness in supply, but that’s no excuse for runaway prices.At current market levels, it already smacks of profiteering.”-Secretary Tiu Laurel stated

The DA’s decision is rooted in the cost of imported onions, which officials say land at approximately P60 per kilo. Tiu Laurel argued that a P120 SRP still allows for "decent profit" margins for all players—from importers to logistics providers to retailers—while offering consumers significant relief.

Retailers Seek Fair Supply Price

AMAS Director Junibert E. De Sagun confirmed that onion retailers were generally receptive to the proposed cap during recent consultations. However, their cooperation hinges on a critical condition: that imported supply be delivered to them at a wholesale price of approximately P90 per kilo.

Retailers also requested that the implementation of the P120 cap be timed to coincide with the arrival of new shipments. This is to prevent squeezing existing inventories that were purchased at much higher, pre-cap prices.

In response, the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) has committed to supplying imported onions at the requested P90 per kilo on a cash-on-delivery basis. New shipments are anticipated to arrive within the next two weeks, setting the DA on track to fully implement the price ceiling in early December.

Stakeholders utilized the consultation to stress the need for tighter monitoring of import volumes and arrival schedules. This enhanced vigilance, they noted, is essential to prevent market manipulation and to protect local farmers from being harmed or displaced by sudden, untimed influxes of imported goods.

Concerns were also raised regarding potential farmgate price increases for local onions, driven by reduced planting and recent crop losses due to typhoons.

DA officials assured growers and traders that any future ceiling on locally-produced onions will remain subject to further consultation and adjustment should farmgate prices see sharp increases.

The DA emphasized that its ultimate goal is not just a temporary price reduction but the stabilization of the entire onion supply chain. This aims to protect consumers from sudden price spikes while ensuring fairness for both farmers and retailers throughout the holiday season.

Source: Department of Agriculture

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