NextGen Day

Large onions the size of a fist that is being marketed in some areas of Metro Manila, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA), are probably smuggled.

The 5,775 metric tons of imported onions that were authorized have not yet arrived in the nation, according to DA deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez in an interview.

“Wala pang dumadating, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). The first border checkpoint had no nire-reports on possible dumating. If the man is dumating, there is no distribution scheme in Pangalawa. In light of this, kung titingnan mo, (Because nothing has yet arrived, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry. (In the initial border check, no reported entries have been made. In the event that a [volume] has been delivered, there isn’t yet a distribution plan. Therefore, it is clear that things are smuggled if you look at them,” he stated.

According to Estoperez, there have been rumors that these large onions are being marketed in Marikina and Pasay.

The DA is also investigating whether it is accessible online.

It may be online. (Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement James) Layug, na-confiscate nila, mga 20 bags pa lang (This [is also] available online.) Kagabi nag-operate sila. Asec. Layug confiscated about 20 bags last night. However, they are investigating this and are in communication with the surveillance, he continued.

In cooperation with other organizations like the Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation, the DA, according to Estoperez, is stepping up its efforts to combat the smuggling of agricultural products.

“It is what we were saying. This is what we’re saying: Nag-issue ka ng SPSIC (sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance), tas nasa paligid lang pala ‘yung sibuyas. The [smuggled] onions are currently in the area even though you gave a sanitary phytosanitary import approval. We are careful about that,” he said.

The DA stated that either during this week or the following week, imported onions with issued SPSIC will enter the nation.

Prior to the peak onion harvest season, it was stated that the imported onions will be divided among Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This is predicted to result in a decrease in the price of between PHP100 and PHP150 per kilogram.

At the moment, white onions can be purchased at the DA-Agribusiness Development Center Kadiwa site for PHP150 per kilogram.

The DA asserted that it no longer had authority over maintaining the pricing, nevertheless.

Given that the government no longer provides subsidies for the available onions at Kadiwa outlets, its pricing is instead determined by the cooperatives that supply the site directly.

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