Gov’t eyes importing red onions

The government sees the need to import red onions amid the spike in prices and looming supply shortage, a Department of Agriculture official said Tuesday.

DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said in a TV interview they expect to need around 13,000 metric tons of red onions by December. However, he said farmers are anticipated to harvest only 5,000 metric tons next month.

"The peak season is still in February, even though we were meant to be waiting for the harvest," he said in Filipino.

Estoperez stated the DA may hold consultations by the first or second week of December to address the shortage issue because the holiday season is quickly approaching.

He added that they plan to inspect the cold storage facilities' inventories of onions to see where the problem is coming from.

"Worst case is that we will have to import again to meet the demand, especially during the holidays. We will import if we need to import," Estoperez said.

For her part, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Kristine Evangelista said Monday the retail prices of local red onions ranged from P260 and P300 per kilogram.

"To increase supply, we are currently focusing on the volume to be gathered. We are aware that increasing supply will primarily contribute to price stability and a reduction in prices," Evangelista said.