A cheaper price range of onions may be expected next week, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday.

During her visit to farmers in Nueva Ecija, DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the farm-gate price has declined as the country nears the peak harvest season.

“Bumababa na ang presyo ng farm-gate price dito sa Bongabon. We will have to validate din po ang presyo sa Pangasinan and other production areas. But definitely, dito sa Bongabon, sa ating pag-oobserba, bumaba na ‘yung presyo,” she said.

Evangelista said the department has decided not to extend the P250 suggested retail price (SRP) due to the expected price drop alongside the harvest season.

“Kaya nga hanggang Jan. 7 lang ang SRP. Kasi inaasahan na after that, bababa na ‘yung presyo. So ‘yung itinakda nating P250 na presyo, inaasahan natin magiging P200,” she said.

The DA monitoring shows that market prices are slowly moving to the expected cost.

“Wala na po kaming nakikitang P500 dun sa mga palengkeng mino-monitor. So nakikita po natin na nagre-react na ‘yung sa retail dun sa pagbaba ng presyo sa farm-gate price,” Evangelista said.

With the entry of more than 5,000 metric tons of imported onions, DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez earlier said onion prices may even decrease to P100 to P150 per kg.

The prevailing price range for local red onions in Metro Manila is P300 to P400 per kg., while local white onions are sold from P250 to P400 per kg.

Best effort

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), meanwhile, urged its members and other stakeholders to continue collaboration to achieve the administration’s food security target despite inflation challenges.

During its 93rd founding anniversary celebration, BPI chairperson Gerald Panganiban expressed his gratitude for the hard work of the organization and urged them to continue being steadfast and give their best effort to boost the country’s agricultural sector.

“I assure you of giving all our best effort not only from 8 (a.m.) to 5 (p.m.) but the hours past that… Again, I encourage everyone to continuously improve our services and programs in order for us to boost production; increase food security efforts; promote collaboration and engagement sectors; and innovations of technology,” he said.

Panganiban emphasized the need to sustain cooperation with other partner agencies and the stakeholders themselves to ensure support to farmers.

“We are all aware that the agricultural sector has a long way to go. But we have started since the administration of our President Bongbong (Ferdinand R.) Marcos Jr. has set clear directions. Food security is really the focus of our department and we cannot do this alone,” he said. Philippine News Agency