By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – Lower prices of onions are expected in the coming weeks with the arrival of approved imports of red and white onions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.
“End ng February, at least nakita natin na hindi na (we are seeing that) from PHP240 last week, ngayon, ang prevailing PHP200. And we’re expecting bababa pa ito kapag pumasok na sa palengke, itong (the prevailing is PHP200. And we’re expecting that the price will further drop once the imports enter the market, these) yellow and red onions,” Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.
As of Feb. 14, the prices of local red onion in Metro Manila range from PHP150 per kilogram to PHP230/kg; PHP100/kg to PHP140/kg for local white onion; and PHP100/kg to PHP150/kg for imported white onion, according to the DA Bantay Presyo (price watch).
Of the approved 4,000 metric tons (MT) importation of red and white onions, only 3,236 MT are expected to arrive in February, based on the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data.
The said volume is even lower than the 7,000 MT reported deficit for the current month.
“Ito makatulong ito na mapababa konti, hindi tumaas. Pero at the same time, hindi rin siya maka-affect o maka-dumpen iyong presyo ng locally produced natin ng sibuyas (This will help to slightly tame the prices. But at the same time, it will neither affect nor dump the prices of locally-produced onions),” De Mesa said.
As of Feb. 7, he said 2,222 MT red onions are expected to arrive, with around 44 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) issued; and 1,014 MT white onions for 20 approved SPSIC.
The BPI said 52 MT imported white onions have already arrived as of Feb. 13.
Earlier, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the importation is just a “tactical” move to cover supply gaps before the peak harvest season of local onions and prevent the 2022 crisis with onion prices hitting as high as PHP720/kg, highlighting the “limited time and volume” of approved imports.
Tiu Laurel said peak harvest may come from late March until April. (PNA)
