Manila, Aug. 4 -- To protect Filipino onion growers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday assured no importation of red onions until next year.

In an interview, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the country has an adequate supply of onions nationwide.

"With the current supply in stock, we don't have to import onions until March next year, for red," he said at the sidelines of a market inspection at New Las Pnas City Public Market.

Tiu Laurel said this move will help protect the profitability of local onion farmers.

For white onions, however, a possible importation was considered but only at a limited level.

"'Yung white onion, baka maubusan tayo ng supply ng November so baka doon lang tayo mag-trigger ng k...