• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
In response to the recent surge in onion prices at local markets, the Department of Agriculture – Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) announced plans to allocate funds aimed at increasing regional onion production.
Engr. Albert Barrogo, DA-NIR director, revealed in an interview that the majority of onions sold in local markets are imported from neighboring countries. He emphasized that the region’s own red and white onion production remains minimal.
“Actually, there is little to no local onion production here, so most of the onions in Negros are imported,” Barrogo stated.
The DA has coordinated with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Negros Occidental to further bolster local onion production.
“We have identified potential areas for cultivation, and by 2026, we will allocate a budget to start enhancing our onion production,” Barrogo added, citing the region’s current dependence on imports.
SRP ONLY FOR IMPORTED ONIONS
Regarding the suggested retail price (SRP), Barrogo clarified that the P120 SRP applies only to imported onions. This regulation, he explained, does not impact the prices of locally produced onions.
“The SRP is only for imported onions—red and white varieties. We have not set an SRP for local onions because their production volume is very limited,” he said.
As for the implementation guidelines for the P120 SRP, Barrogo noted that these are still pending. However, once issued, authorities anticipate penalties for vendors who fail to comply with the mandate.*
