DA to import yellow onions

By Rose de la Cruz

Hotels, restaurants, fastfood chains and even the lowly carinderia  should  have ample and sustainable supply of yellow onions.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said  that shipments would come as early as August, now that local harvest have almost been completed and with inventories expected to be depleted by next month.

The DA would allow the shipment of 25,000 metric tons of yellow onions following an advisory from the Bureau of Plant Industry that as of June 20, stocks stood only at 9,822 MT.

At a monthly consumption of around 4,300 MT, BPI estimates that supply only last until August 26, at most.

Despite this, the Philippines is expected to produce some 80 MT by the end of June, based on BPI data.

However, BPI said the country’s additional yellow onion supplies would only last until August 27.

Earlier, Laurel disclosed that the DA would approve the importation of red onions by October.

Again, BPI figures showed that red onion stocks were estimated at 77,914 MT in the same reference period, which would only last until October 31, based on the country’s daily consumption.Current prices of red onions (popular among households) have been increasing, with the small-sized onions fetching P100 per kg. (which is how much I bought along the road direct from a farm in Mindoro).

The agency said the expected volume of red onions that will be harvested until June 30 would reach about 2,086 MT. These additional stocks are expected to last for 136 days or until November 4.

The DA had authorized the importation of 4,000 MT of red and yellow onions last February as stocks thinned out, with a caveat that these would only plug the projected shortfall in domestic supply that month.

Government price monitoring report shows that the retail price of local red onions ranges from P120 to P150 per kilo, while local white onions are sold in Metro Manila markets between P85 and P150 per kilo.