Prices of white onions are high because of low supply. As expected, the Department of Agriculture is now thinking of importing white onions, which is often used only for salads and spreads while the most basic cooking ingredient is red onion, which is not that pricey.
The shortage of white onions brought its prices to as high as P400 per kilo in some stores. However, the Department of Agriculture (DA) stated that it has already begun to take action to resolve the issue.
Just yesterday OpinYon sought for white onions in the talipapa (small neighborhood market) in Tandang Sora, which the suki vendor she did not order from Balintawak as it was priced at P250 a kilo.
White onions have been unavailable for the past two weeks at the Cloverleaf Market in Balintawak, Quezon City.
"Mga two weeks na walang puting sibuyas... Wala raw dating na imported na sibuyas," market vendor Pangilinan said.
A few who were selling priced white onions at P250 per kilo wholesale rate but there were no takers, the suki vendor said.
Pangilinan stated that the most recent time she sold white onions, the cost per kg was P250. At this time, she is just selling red onions for P110 per kilogram.
"Hindi masyadong tumataas ang presyo ng pulang sibuyas, she said.
The DA found a dearth of white onions (which are usually imported) in the wet markets. Ergo, another recommendation for importation is in the offing.
Yung sa white onions, wala na talagang supply. Tiningnan natin
'yung inventory at wala na tayong supply ng white onion. Kaya kahit sa mga palengke, kahit dito mismo sa bagsakan e walang white onion, siyempre po walang makakarating lalo na sa palengke," DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said.
White onions are also unavailable in restaurants, supermarkets and institutional buyers. To meet the demand, she claimed, the DA is thus thinking of importing white onions. Housewives and carinderias usually use red onions for cooking while white onions are good for salads and spreads.
"Initially kasi kailangan natin ng availability tsaka siyempre dapat mababa ang presyo kaya ang tinitingnan natin ang pag-angkat," Evangelista said.
"Pero kung gaano karami ang ating aangkatin (see, this is the natural line of thought of DA) at hanggang kailan tayo mag-aangkat, 'yan ang pag-uusapan with the producers para hindi sumabay 'yung pagpasok ng ating imported na onions doon sa harvest season ng ating mga magsasaka," she added.
Evangelista also stated that the price of white onions seeds is prohibitive.
"Bukod po doon sa mataas na presyo ng gasolina at fertilizer, 'yung binhi ng white onion mas mahal compared sa red onion. So 'yan din po ang tinitingnan natin on the production side kung paano natin sila farmers tutulungan," she said.
"Meron na tayong mga tulong na binigay sa ating mga rice farmers 'di ba. So titingnan naman natin kung paano natin matutulungan 'yung mga high-value crops farmers po pagdating sa assistance tsaka subsidiya sa kanilang produksiyon," Evangelista said.
Evangelista stated that a meeting with onion farmers is scheduled today to discuss how the government can encourage the planting of more white onions.
Evangelista stated that the DA is keeping an eye on the quantity and cost of red onions.
"Binabantayan namin ngayon itong red onions...Kailangan nating makita ang inventory status pati ng cold storage facilities at makikipag-usap nga po kami sa mga magsasaka para sa cost structure," she said.
"Kasi kahit ipasok natin ang gastos sa cold storage facility, dapat makita natin kung magkano dapat binabagsak dito sa Balintawak at sa mga iba pang bagsakan ang ating mga red onion," Evangelista added.
Tags: #DA, #onionsupply, #consumers