By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday assured “tactical” importation of onions as the country approaches peak harvest season of local onions.
Tiu Laurel made this remark after some agricultural groups expressed dismay over the DA’s approval of the importation of 3,000 metric tons (MT) of red onions and 1,000 MT of white onions in February.
“Ang ginawa natin (What we did) is very tactical. Limited volume, limited quality, limited time. So, it should address any (price) spikes,” Tiu Laurel said in a Palace briefing, citing the record PHP720/kg. retail price of onion in 2022.
He said that based on the Bureau of Plant Industry’s (BPI) data, the 4,000 MT import volume is lower than the reported deficit of 7,000 MT for the month.
“It’s not even enough to fill in the received or estimated gap. So, there’s nothing, hindi dapat mag-worry and mahirap naman na wala akong gawin (there’s no reason to worry and it’s also hard to do nothing),” Tiu Laurel said.
The import arrivals are expected within the third to fourth week of February.
“Ang sinasabi nila, talagang full harvest nila (What they’re (Nueva Ecija onion producers) saying is that their full harvest is around) the third week of March and even up to April 2025,” Tiu Laurel said.
He said the move was crucial as they started to monitor an increase in onion prices.
“I have to think of the consumers also, not just the farmers,” the official said.
To date, prices of local red onions in Metro Manila range from PHP130 to PHP200/kg. while local white onions from PHP120 to PHP140/kg, according to the DA Bantay Presyo (price watch).
As of Jan. 31, the BPI said the stock inventory of red onions was at 2,325.86 MT, while white onions were at 631.45 MT, lower than the country’s monthly consumption of 17,000 MT of red onions and 4,000 MT of white onions. (PNA)
