DA: No onion hoarding
MANILA, Philippines — No traces of onion hoarding have been found following an inspection of onion cold storage facilities nationwide, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Based on the Bureau of Plant Industry’s inspection, only 500 metric tons of red onions were stored in warehouses, mostly in Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier ordered an inspection of cold storage facilities amid high retail prices of onion.
Local harvest was pegged at 30 MT, DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said.
“We expect the peak of harvest between March and April, with an expected harvest for red onions at 145,000 MT and 35,000 MT for white onions,” he noted.
De Mesa said the 4,000 MT of imported bulbs is minimal compared to the expected harvest.
“Most of the imported bulbs came from China. Most of the volume will be arriving this week,” he said.
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