The Department of Agriculture (DA) has been regularly monitoring the prices of basic commodities, and continues to ensure that the movement in market value chain will be quickly addressed.

Based on the daily monitoring of prices conducted by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, prices of onion and garlic remain stable in Commonwealth, Guadalupe, Las Piñas, Marikina, Mega Q-mart, Muñoz, Pasay, Pasig, Quinta, San Andres, Muntinlupa and Pritil markets.

“According to our records of the average prices in September and October this year 2023, the prices range from Php 140.00 to Php 142.00 for local red onion, Php 125.00 to P130.00 for local white onion, Php 120 to Php 125.00 for imported white onion, Php 125.00 to Php140.00 Php 140.00 for imported garlic and Php 500.00 for local garlic, respectively,” Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa reported.

De Mesa however noted an increase in price for other crops, particularly potatoes which he said resulted from the spate of typhoons that hit the country in July and August.

“This (price increase of potatoes) may be attributed to the typhoons that hit the country during the months of July and August,” De Mesa said.

De Mesa however stressed that the DA is looking into the situation and expects the situation to normalize with the incoming supply.

“The peak of harvest within the last quarter this year up to the first quarter of next year-2024 will make a positive impact on the supply and prices of potatoes,” he said. ###