The Department of Agriculture (DA) will be deferring the implementation of the suggested retail price (SRP) for red and white onions, DA Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez announced on Wednesday, May 24.
In an interview with reporters, he said that DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban has yet signed the draft order which directs the imposement of ₱150 per kilogram for red onions and ₱140 for white onions.
"According to the Senior Undersecretary, pina-hold niya para pag-aralan maigi 'yung cost structure kasi mukhang he's not convinced with the cost structure na pinresent doon to set the SRP," Estoperez said
"For now, wala ho tayong ina-announce na SRP for onions," he added.
The DA official said that they are now coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in regard to the SRP.
Estoperez noted that they will continue monitoring and inspecting the cold storage of onions.
The new SRP for red and white onions was supposed to be implemented last Monday, May 22.
Based on the latest price monitoring of the agriculture department, the price of local red onion ranges ₱100 to ₱200 per kilogram while the local white onion at ₱150 to ₱200.
