The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Monday that the prices of onions are anticipated to decrease in the coming weeks due to the influx of imported red and white onions. This development was shared during a public market visit in Fairview, Quezon City on February 10, 2025.
Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa of the DA stated in an interview that by the end of February, onion prices, which were at PHP240 per kilogram last week, have now stabilized at PHP200 per kilogram. He further predicted that prices would continue to fall once the imported onions reach the market. According to the DA’s price watch, as of February 14, local red onions in Metro Manila were priced between PHP150 to PHP230 per kilogram, local white onions between PHP100 to PHP140 per kilogram, and imported white onions between PHP100 to PHP150 per kilogram.
Out of the 4,000 metric tons of red and white onions approved for import, only 3,236 metric tons are expected to arrive in February, as per the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). This amount is less than the reported 7,000 metric ton deficit for the month. De Mesa noted that these imports would help moderate prices without adversely affecting the market for locally produced onions.
As of February 7, 2,222 metric tons of red onions and 1,014 metric tons of white onions were expected to arrive, with 44 and 20 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances issued respectively. By February 13, 52 metric tons of imported white onions had already reached the country.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. described the importation as a strategic move to address supply shortages before the local onion harvest season peaks from late March to April. This measure aims to prevent a repeat of the 2022 crisis when onion prices soared to PHP720 per kilogram, emphasizing the limited scope and duration of the import approvals.