A retail price of onions worth P200 per kilo is already overpriced as traders pay farmers P60 per kilo of the bulbs during the harvest season, according to farmer’s group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG).

SINAG president Rosendo So said traders only purchase the onions at P60 per kilo at a farmgate price, emphasizing that the retail price for onions should only range between P130 and P140 a kilo.

So added that the retail price needs monitoring to curb unnecessary increases, calling the attention of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) should look closer to avoid the upward trend of prices.

He reiterated the necessity of importing white onions, explaining the stocks at cold storage facilities are expected to last for only three months and should begin to arrive in July to stop another shortage, following the price increase to P720 per kilo in December 2022 caused by scarcity in supply.

Moreover, So mentioned that the DA can still utilize the unused import permits if the importation of at least 22,000 metric tons of onions gets permission from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

More markets sold the bulbs at P200 per kilo, based on the monitoring of the DA, which includes Las Piñas City Public Market, Guadalupe Public Market in Makati City, and Marikina Public Market.

Meanwhile, retail prices of onions ranged between P160 and P190 per kilo in San Andres Market, Quinta Market, and Pritil Market, all in Manila; Pamilihang Lungsod ng Muntinlupa; Pasay City Market; Pasig City Mega Market; Commonwealth Market; Muñoz Market; and Mega Q-Mart, all in Quezon City; and Malabon Central Market.