Philippines, Oct. 2 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it has allowed the importation of the redd and white onions, as well as carrots, to help stabilize retail prices in local markets.
In an ambush interview on the 47th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the country has already started importing red and white onions.
"We noticed that the price of red onion went up two weeks ago to PHP140 to PHP160, which is too much," he said.
The DA chief said he allowed imports to arrive earlier than the initial target of Oct. 15.
"I have a feeling that the remaining local stocks are being withheld a bit to maximize prices. That's why we ordered import arrivals s...