DA: 3,270 MT of imported onions arrive

At least 3,270 metric tons (MT) of imported onions have arrived in the country as part of government efforts to lower retail prices.

- BELLA CARIASO

"At least 2,300 MT of red onions entered the country and 970 MT of white bulbs," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told The STAR yesterday.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier approved the importation of 4,000 MT of onions—3,000 MT of red and 1,000 MT of white—following a surge in retail prices, which reached P200 per kilo.

Tiu Laurel emphasized that the limited importation was intended to curb further price increases while awaiting the peak harvest season. As a result, onion prices have dropped from P200 to P130 per kilo, he added.

Agriculture spokesman Arnel de Mesa projected that red onion prices could further decline to P80 to P100 per kilo with the continued arrival of imports and the peak harvest period.

However, farmers' group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) expressed concern over the depressed farmgate prices, which have dropped to P32 per kilo for white onions and P45 per kilo for red onions.