First shipment of yellow onion imports arrive in PH
Some 2,000 metric tons (MT) of imported yellow onions have arrived in the country, with more expected in the coming months, the top official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Tuesday.
“Basically, we issued the permits already. And as of today, from what I understand, there’s already 2,000 MT that arrived. And that will continue until the end of the year,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. The volume is equivalent to 12.5 percent of the 16,000 MT of yellow onions to be ordered from abroad between now and December to build the country’s stocks for the holiday season.
Tiu Laurel said last month that he authorized the importation of onions ahead of the harvest season in January next year to ensure ample stocks for the rest of the year and stabilize retail prices.
Sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances will be issued by the DA every two weeks to avoid a supply glut and affecting existing stocks of red onions, which Tiu Laurel had said would last until March next year. —JORDEENE B. LAGARE
