Red onion tops Guimaras market prices in December 2025

Marketgoers in Guimaras felt the pinch in early December 2025 as red onion emerged as the priciest item among monitored agricultural commodities, with its average retail price surging to PHP 320 per kilogram, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Data from the Retail Price Survey (RPS) conducted from Dec. 1 to 5, 2025, showed the price of red onion surged significantly compared with previous months. The commodity was previously recorded at PHP 150 per kilogram in the first phase of November 2025 and PHP 155 per kilogram in the second phase.

In December 2024, prices ranged only from PHP 95 to PHP 120 per kilogram, highlighting a sharp year-on-year increase of as much as PHP 225 per kilogram or roughly 237%.

Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare explained that the figures were generated from the RPS of Selected Commodities, which serves as input to the computation of the Consumer Price Index.

Among other agricultural commodities monitored during the same reference period, native garlic recorded an average retail price of PHP 140 per kilogram, slightly higher than the prices posted in November 2025 and December 2024.

Ginger (Hawaiian) was priced at an average of PHP 155 per kilogram, reflecting a decrease compared with the PHP 175 per kilogram recorded in December 2024 but higher than the PHP 140 per kilogram in the first phase of November 2025.

Carabao mango was sold at PHP 165 per kilogram, unchanged from both phases of November 2025 yet notably lower than the PHP 245 per kilogram recorded in December 2024.

Lakatan banana averaged PHP 90 per kilogram, remaining stable compared with November 2025 but lower than the PHP 115 per kilogram recorded in December 2024.

Similarly, banana latundan remained at PHP 50 per kilogram, slightly lower than the PHP 55 per kilogram observed during the same period last year.

Calamansi recorded an average retail price of PHP 65 per kilogram, higher than the PHP 50 per kilogram posted in early November 2025 but lower than the PHP 80 per kilogram recorded in December 2024.

Meanwhile, brown sugar remained steady at PHP 70 per kilogram, slightly higher than the PHP 69 per kilogram registered in December 2024.

Refined sugar was priced at PHP 76 per kilogram, consistent with November 2025 levels and slightly lower than the PHP 78 per kilogram recorded in December 2024.

“Among all monitored commodities, red onion stood out as the most expensive during the first phase of December 2025,” Losare said.

Losare also explained that the RPS is conducted biweekly, with price collection carried out from the first to the fifth day of the month for the first phase and from the 15th to the 17th day for the second phase. Prices for the first phase of December 2025 are preliminary.

“The PSA continues to monitor price movements of essential commodities to provide timely and reliable information that supports informed decision-making among households, policymakers, and stakeholders in the province,” Losare said.

The Philippines has historically experienced volatile onion prices driven by seasonal supply gaps and import dependency. In early 2023, red onion prices nationwide spiked to as high as PHP 600 per kilogram, prompting government intervention and increased import allocations to stabilize the market.