The price of red onions in some markets has now increased to P600 per kilo, based on the Department of Agriculture's (DA) monitoring on December 27.

However, DA stand firm on having enough supply of onions in the country — disregarding importation.

Last October, DA's suggested retail price (SRP) for red onions was P170 a kilo, and in their press briefing last Tuesday, they clarified that SRPs are only guides for sellers.

“It will be challenging for us to enforce the SRP because if we do so, no vendor will be selling because their (production cost) is high,” DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said.

Despite the increase, retailers said that people still buy onions, and supplies from the production harvest will arrive in January.

"I asked one retailer if the (the onions) are still selling even if the price is like that, he said there are buyers and they are also waiting for the production (harvest) this coming January," he said based on his several market visits.

Farmers were still recovering due to recent typhoons and high-cost production — leaving numerous lands unplanted.

Estoperez encouraged farms to plant more onions assuring them of government support.