The Philippines will be sourcing 21,000 metric tons (MT) of imported onions from China, India and the Netherlands to offset a looming shortage of the bulbs due to increased demand following the start of the Christmas holiday season.
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) started issuing sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSIC) to traders and importers willing to bring the commodity in.
Approved for importation is 17,000 MT red onions and 4,000 MT white onions.
The importation volumes were based on per capita consumption and will serve as buffer to stabilize prices in the market prior to peak harvest of local produce on March to April 2024, the bureau said.
All imported fresh onions are required to arrive in the country on or before Dec. 31, 2023 to guarantee local producers that it will not coincide with the upcoming harvest.
But the BPI said an extension of the arrival date is possible, depending on the availability of stocks and prices in the market.
The bureau said the importation is part of the interventions the government is making to guarantee ample supply amid increased demand this holiday season.
The BPI assured the public the government would not allow a repeat of last year’s fiasco on “ludicrously-priced” onions.