DA chief defends onion imports against criticism
AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday justified importing onions amid criticism that doing so would hurt farmers. Tiu Laurel said he understands the sentiments of onion producers but said his decision merely sought to address the dwindling supply. "'Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I'm here to manage; I'm not a farmer, I'm not an importer, I'm the DA (Department of Agriculture) secretary and here to manage the situation,'' Laurel said at a briefing in Malacañang as he allayed farmers' fears. "It's hard for me not to do anything. I can't just sit and wait until they harvest," he added in Filipino. The official said data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed a 7,000-ton deficit in onion supply for this month, and importation as a means to fill the gap is a "tactical move." "There really is a deficit for February of 7,000 tons. And actually, we will open up the market for only 4,000 tons — 1,000 tons for white, 3,000 tons for red. So, it's not even enough to fill in the perceived gap or estimated gap, so there's nothing to worry about," Tiu Laurel said. He further noted that large-scale onion producers — specifically the municipalities of Bongabon and Rizal and San Jose City in Nueva Vizcaya, are only expected to yield a full harvest of onions by the third week of March and even up to April 2025, which is why he pushed for the importation. "I have to think of the consumers also, not just the farmers," Laurel said. But Sen. Imee Marcos slammed the DA plan to import 4,000 MT of onions as "senseless" since farmers have started their harvest. The senator on Monday criticized the lack of action against hoarders manipulating onion prices just as they did in 2022. She said the imported onions are set to arrive by Feb. 20. "Harvest season has begun, yet here we go again with another round of imports! Haven't we learned our lesson?" Marcos said in a statement. "Prices drop during harvest time. Why bring in imports now when we know this would mean losses for our farmers?" she asked. Marcos added, "We keep importing, but what's being done about those stockpiling onions in cold storage?" "Even if we have enough supply, prices will still skyrocket if hoarders are in control," she said. "Before bringing in imports, make sure you're not burying our farmers' livelihood in the process," she said.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday justified importing onions amid criticism that doing so would hurt farmers.
Tiu Laurel said he understands the sentiments of onion producers but said his decision merely sought to address the dwindling supply.
"'Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I'm here to manage; I'm not a farmer, I'm not an importer, I'm the DA (Department of Agriculture) secretary and here to manage the situation,'' Laurel said at a briefing in Malacañang as he allayed farmers' fears.
"It's hard for me not to do anything. I can't just sit and wait until they harvest," he added in Filipino.
The official said data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed a 7,000-ton deficit in onion supply for this month, and importation as a means to fill the gap is a "tactical move."
"There really is a deficit for February of 7,000 tons. And actually, we will open up the market for only 4,000 tons — 1,000 tons for white, 3,000 tons for red. So, it's not even enough to fill in the perceived gap or estimated gap, so there's nothing to worry about," Tiu Laurel said.
He further noted that large-scale onion producers — specifically the municipalities of Bongabon and Rizal and San Jose City in Nueva Vizcaya, are only expected to yield a full harvest of onions by the third week of March and even up to April 2025, which is why he pushed for the importation.
"I have to think of the consumers also, not just the farmers," Laurel said.
But Sen. Imee Marcos slammed the DA plan to import 4,000 MT of onions as "senseless" since farmers have started their harvest.
The senator on Monday criticized the lack of action against hoarders manipulating onion prices just as they did in 2022.
She said the imported onions are set to arrive by Feb. 20.
"Harvest season has begun, yet here we go again with another round of imports! Haven't we learned our lesson?" Marcos said in a statement.
"Prices drop during harvest time. Why bring in imports now when we know this would mean losses for our farmers?" she asked.
Marcos added, "We keep importing, but what's being done about those stockpiling onions in cold storage?"
"Even if we have enough supply, prices will still skyrocket if hoarders are in control," she said.
"Before bringing in imports, make sure you're not burying our farmers' livelihood in the process," she said.
