With holiday demand driving up the cost of essential ingredients, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a maximum suggested retail price of P120 per kilo for both red and white onions effective Monday.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the price cap aims to temper surging costs during the Christmas season.
He noted that retail prices for onions have reached P300 per kilo in several markets, with some areas reporting prices nearing P400.
Tiu Laurel acknowledged that delays in import arrivals tightened supply, but stressed that the situation does not justify what he described as “runaway prices” bordering on profiteering.
He explained that imported onions land at around P60 per kilo, which he said leaves ample room for reasonable retail margins under the P120 ceiling.
The DA chief also announced that the rice import moratorium imposed in September will remain in place until Dec. 31.
He said the temporary ban initially pushed farmgate palay prices higher before stabilizing as the harvest season progressed.
The extension follows President Marcos’ directive to maintain stable palay prices and shield farmers from potential financial strain.
The DA likewise warned the public against scams involving offers of early access to rice import allocations.
Tiu Laurel said rice millers, importers, and traders in Cebu recently received solicitation forms falsely claiming that they could secure import privileges as early as December.
One sample document used official-sounding language and cited a supposed “food security program in 2026” to lure participants.
“This is fake news, this is a scam,” Tiu Laurel said, urging stakeholders to remain vigilant and report such schemes immediately. Dani Lagman