00:00The Department of Agriculture approved the lifting of the price of onions
00:04to avoid a price increase of up to Php 200 per kilo.
00:08But a group is questioning why, even now,
00:11when there are those who are starting to harvest onions,
00:14Bernadette Reyes is still stuck.
00:19Bing even went out to buy the smallest onion.
00:23She already loves the regular onions.
00:26Last week, I was able to get 140.
00:30Now, it's at Php 200.
00:32She avoids selling vegetables with a lot of onions.
00:37I didn't make sisig because onions are expensive.
00:42The Department of Agriculture is monitoring
00:44that the price of red onions is up to Php 200 per kilo.
00:47White onions are up to Php 150 if local
00:51and up to Php 160 if imported.
00:54In mid-January, it suddenly increased to Php 140.
00:59Now, in February, it's at Php 180 to Php 160.
01:05To avoid a price increase,
01:08the Department of Agriculture approved the lifting of the price of red and white onions.
01:13According to the Bureau of Plant Industry,
01:15even if there is a sufficient supply of onions,
01:17it is still recommended to import
01:19to avoid a price increase.
01:22Because of the floods and the spread of pests and diseases,
01:26it is necessary to import to serve as a buffer stock in case of shortage.
01:30Three thousand metric tons were allowed to import red onions
01:34and 1,000 metric tons of white onions.
01:37It should arrive before February 20.
01:41The country will run out of stocks by the first week of February.
01:48There are harvests, but not that many.
01:52The Secretary said that the prices of onions are too high.
02:00The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
02:03questioned why it will import
02:05now that some are starting to harvest onions.
02:08We don't have a problem if it will import if it is really needed.
02:12But usually, that is after the harvest,
02:16in the month of July, August, and September.
02:19If the import arrives in two weeks' time,
02:22that will be the peak harvest.
02:23The import is too small, only 4,000.
02:26Just to ensure that from February 20
02:30or from now until the peak of the harvest season,
02:33there will be no shortage of supply.
02:39For GMA Integrated News,
02:42Bernadette Reyes, Nakatutok, 24 Hours.
02:52For GMA Integrated News, Bernadette Reyes, Nakatuk, 24 Hours.
Comments