The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering the restricted importation of white onions and certain vegetables, as revealed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. This consideration comes in response to the damage caused by successive strong typhoons in vegetable-producing areas in Luzon. "I see that we need to import a small amount of white onions because prices have risen from $1.44 to $2.16 in the market due to the typhoons," Tiu Laurel said during an impromptu interview, emphasizing the impact of typhoons on market prices.
According to DA's Bantay Presyo monitoring, local white onions in Metro Manila are priced between $1.44 and $2.52 per kilogram, while imported ones range from $1.17 to $2.88 per kilogram. To stabilize domestic supply, the DA previously approved the importation of 16,000 metric tons of white onions in August. Tiu Laurel also mentioned potential imports of carrots, tomatoes, and broccoli, pending further analysis. Currently, carrot prices in Metro Manila have surged from $2.70 to $4.14 per kilogram, while tomatoes have risen from $2.70 to $4.14 per kilogram, marking significant increases from prior months. The DA is also considering sourcing vegetables from the Visayas and Mindanao regions to help mitigate price hikes.
Source: Philippine News Agency