Philippines caps onion prices at ₱120 per kilo nationwide

BAGUIO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a maximum suggested retail price (SRP) of ₱120 per kilo for red and white onions, both local and imported, effective December 1, 2025.

The move comes after retail prices surged to ₱300–₱400 per kilo in recent weeks, nearly triple the fair market value.

Officials said the increase was driven by profiteering rather than genuine supply shortages, as the landed cost of imported onions remains at about ₱60 per kilo.

In Baguio City, red onion prices spiked to ₱240–₱300 per kilo in November, reflecting thinning supply and weather disruptions.

The DA expects stabilization in December with imports arriving and the SRP enforcement, ahead of the January 2026 harvest.

The nationwide price cap was timed to prevent excessive hikes during the holiday season, when demand typically rises.

The DA emphasized that the SRP still allows reasonable profit margins across the supply chain.