Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) — The country’s agriculture secretary has ordered the suspension of onion importation until May as the local market is experiencing a supply glut, leading to a price drop.
In a statement on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. expressed openness to extending the suspension “through July” if Filipino farmers’ produce can still meet local demand.
“In principle, I agree with no onion importation until July,” he said. “But that is on condition that if there is a sudden supply shortfall, we will have to import earlier.”
“Hindi po natin alam ang mangyayari dahil may El Niño (We don’t know what would happen because of El Niño),” Laurel added.
Laurel’s decision came amid depressed prices of onion because supply exceeds the needs of consumers.
The official attributed the supply glut to fresh harvest and shipment delays of 99 tons of imported onion that just entered the Philippines between Jan. 1 and 15.
According to the DA, farm gate prices of onion already fell between ₱50 and ₱70 per kilo
In Nueva Ecija, a major onion producer province, price already plunged to as low as ₱20 a kilo.
In December 2022, onion prices rose to a record high P720 a kilo due to tight supply.
