Philippines to import 17,000 MT red, 4,000 MT yellow onions — DA

The Philippines will be importing thousands of metric tons of fresh red and yellow onions in a bid to ensure sufficient supply of the agricultural commodity during the holiday season, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday.

In a statement, the DA said it will be issuing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) for the importation of fresh onions through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

“The volume to be imported for fresh red onion is 17,000 MT and for fresh yellow onion is 4,000 MT which will be sourced from China, India, and Netherlands,” it said.

The Agriculture Department said all the imported fresh onions shall arrive in the country on or before December 31, 2023.

The deadline was set as a guarantee to local producers that the arrival of imports will not coincide with the upcoming harvest.

Nevertheless, extension of the arrival date is still subject to change depending on the available stocks and prices in the market.

“This intervention of the government is to guarantee an ample supply amidst the increasing demand by the forth coming holiday season and to ensure the public that last year’s scenario on the absurd increase in price would not be repeated,” the DA said.

The set volume of importation for both red and yellow onions are based on the per capita consumption of the country and will serve as buffer to stabilize prices in the market prior to peak harvest of local produce on March to April 2024, according to the Agriculture Department. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News