The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued an administrative circular (AC) putting in place a suggested retail price (SRP) for medium-sized red onions in wet markets in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Under AC No. 9, series of 2022, signed by Domingo Panganiban, DA senior undersecretary, on October 7, the DA implemented the SRP of P170 per kilogram for medium-sized red onions in NCR wet markets.
The issuance detailed that the SRP will remain in effect for 60 days from the issuance of the AC unless revised, revoked or lifted.
Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in NCR, the prevailing retail priceas of yesterday (October 10) was P200 per kg for local red onions while data for imported red and white onions as well as local white onions are currently not available.
Kristine Evangelista, DA undersecretary, said in a briefing yesterday a stakeholders meeting was conducted last Friday involving onion farmers, traders, transporters and retailers who all agreed to the said SRP.
“We saw with the price monitoring team that towards the end of August, its price slowly rose and reached P200 per kg. Based on the cost structure that we consult with onion farmers, price of red onions in the market should be lower. We know that all parts of the value chain should have margins but it should also reach consumers at the right price,” Evangelista explained.
However, she said its actual implementation may be by tomorrow as the SRP still needs to be publicized and relayed to the National Price Coordinating Council as well as to the market masters of local government units.
Evangelista also warned that show cause orders may be slapped to traders that will not follow the SRP for red onions, as she assured that its supply is sufficient which is among the main considerations before the SRP was decided.
Apart from red onions, DA said it is also considering implementing a SRP for garlic, among others, but its supply situation is still being studied. – Jed Macapagal
