Philippines, Feb. 10 -- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday assured "tactical" importation of onions as the country approaches peak harvest season of local onions.

Tiu Laurel made this remark after some agricultural groups expressed dismay over the DA's approval of the importation of 3,000 metric tons (MT) of red onions and 1,000 MT of white onions in February.

"Ang ginawa natin (What we did) is very tactical. Limited volume, limited quality, limited time. So, it should address any (price) spikes," Tiu Laurel said in a Palace briefing, citing the record PHP720/kg. retail price of onion in 2022.

He said that based on the Bureau of Plant Industry's (BPI) data, the 4,000 MT import volume is lower th...