There is no more supply of imported red and white onions in the country, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant and Industry (DA-BPI) announced on Friday, May 12. (File photo / MANILA BULLETIN) However, despite the depletion of the supply of imported onions, DA-BPI Spokesperson Jose Diego Roxas said the country has an ample supply of local red and white onions for the meantime. “The Bureau of Plant Industry estimates the country’s supply of white onions as of April, at 12,843.35 metric tons, will last until September while the supply of red onions, at 98,393.86 metric tons, may be sufficient to cover local demand until November,” he said. Recently, supply issues drove the prices of local white and red onions in the National Capital Region (NCR) to skyrocket, costing around P160 to P200 per kilo based on the price monitoring of the agriculture department. Roxas said onion importation is still “an option in consideration of the supply situation but there's no finality on it yet.” Should the DA allow onion importation again, Roxas said it “will be calibrated and will be based on the deficit during the lean months.” “As for the exact figure, it is still under consideration. But again, no confirmation yet that there will be importation,” he reiterated.

No more garlic, too?

Meanwhile, the price of imported garlic is estimated around P100 to P140 per kilo, as of May 11, the DA said. Citing their monitoring data, Roxas said the local garlic supply in the country is nearly depleted.