DA may allow imports of onions later this year

The Department of Agriculture (DA) may authorize the importation of onions later this year to prevent price spikes as latest projections indicate that nationwide supply of the spice may not last until December.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed to The STAR that he would approve the importation of both red and yellow onions later this year to augment domestic supplies to meet the country's requirement.

Tiu Laurel, however, disclosed that the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has not made any recommendations yet on how much volume of onions would be imported this year.

The recommendation is expected to be on Tiu Laurel's table as early as the first week of July to give way for the remaining onion harvest this month.

The country's red onion stocks as of June 13 stood at 85,755 metric tons, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).