Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he has approved the importation of white onion in limited quantity to replenish domestic supply and ensure stable price of the vegetable.
Tiu Laurel stressed the total import volume will be limited to 16,000 metric tons whose arrival will be spread over for the last four months of the year.
The agriculture chief said the first batch of these imported onions should start arriving within the next few days.
“We will do this by batches, in limited quantity so as not to affect existing stocks of red onions as well.”
“We will do this by batches, in limited quantity so as not to affect existing stocks of red onions as well. We will issue permits every two weeks,” the agriculture head explained.
“The additional supply of white or yellow onion should arrive in the country before the end of the year.”
He said the additional supply of white or yellow onion should arrive in the country before the end of the year to prevent the importation from impacting local onion farmers’ output early next year.
Unlike red onion that is abundantly produced in the country, local production of white or yellow onion is limited.
In fact, Tiu Laurel said the current supply of red onion is enough until March next year.
