Imported red onions in various markets in the National Capital Region (NCR) are at least P40 cheaper than local red onions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported.

Based on the price monitoring of the agriculture department as of Friday, Jan.27, imported red onions are being sold for P200 to P250 per kilo, while local red onions are priced P240 to P350 a kilo.

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has disclosed in a recent “Laging Handa” briefing that the first batch of imported onions have arrived in the country, saying that 588 metric tons (MT) of onions– 218 MT of yellow onions and 370 MT of red onions– are now stored at cold storage facilities.

Meanwhile, the price of imported white onions monitored by the DA are higher than of locally harvested white onions. Per kilo, imported onions are priced P250 to P260; local white onions cost P170 to P300 a kilo.

The agriculture department had earlier predicted that prices of onions would drop once the of imports arrive in the country before the end of January.

Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez, DA deputy spokesperson, said in an earlier interview that they are expecting the price of onions to go as low as P150 to P200 per kilo.

He said the agriculture department has calibrated the time and volume of the importation to ensure that the imported onions will not overlap with the local harvest of onion growers.

This is because the peak of harvest for local onion growers in the country is in mid-February, explained Estoperez.

Some groups of farmers have earlier expressed worry that the public would patronize imported onions over local harvests.

Prior to the approval of onion importation, Estoperez himself admitted that the price of onion in the country has “gotten out of control.”

The price of onions in some markets went as high as P720 per kilo during the holiday season.