MANILA, Philippines – Agricultural Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed on Thursday, February 6, that he authorized the importation of 3,000 metric tons of red onions and 1,000 metric tons of white onions — set to arrive in the next two weeks — to avoid a repeat of the 2022 onion crisis.
“We will not risk a potential shortage that unscrupulous traders could exploit to drive up prices, as we saw in the past,” said Tiu Laurel. “We do not want a repeat of the 2022 crisis.”
The DA said in a statement that according to data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), there are 8,500 metric tons of red onions and 1,628 metric tons of white onions in storage as of the middle of January. The BPI had recommended the importation.
BPI Director Glenn Panganiban had clarified that the imports are meant to be a “preemptive measure” for possible supply gaps that may emanate from the onslaught of typhoons, pests, and diseases in 2024.
“While we were assured during our consultative meetings that there is still ample supply of onions, BPI recommended minimal imports to prevent major price spikes,” said Panganiban.
Agricultural group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) questioned the timing of the importation, saying this will harm onion farmers who are only beginning to start their harvest.
“Why not wait until after harvest?” SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet asked on Thursday.
Cainglet said the onion harvest had been delayed because Super Typhoon Pepito affected planting last year. Importing onions as farmers are beginning to harvest would mean losses for the farmers, he said.
“’Pag ngayon mo papasukin during harvest, papatayin mo talaga ang kabuhayan ng farmers,” he said. (If you import onions now during harvest, you will really kill farmers’ livelihood.)
After farmers harvest, the onions will be placed in cold storage facilities and an inventory of available supply can be made.
The surge in onion prices in 2022 prompted a congressional inquiry where lawmakers pointed to an “onion cartel” as behind the “artificial” spike in prices. In December 2024, the DA blacklisted three importers linked to the alleged onion cartel for price manipulation and collusion which limited competition.– Rappler.com