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 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.
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.
Chief Defends Onion Imports Against Criticism
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