The government’s move to import 35,000 metric tons of red onions is seen to trigger a major backlash on local farmers expecting to sell their harvests in two months.
Sen. Imee Marcos, while acknowledging the government’s claim that the importation was intended to plug an expected supply shortage, sought an assurance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) that this “would have no adverse effect” on local harvests in March.
Marcos, citing the Philippine Statistics Authority, noted that wholesale price of red onions in December averaged P195 per kilo, with groceries and supermarkets selling red onions for P150 to P200 per kilo.
The Senator voiced serious concerns over potential glut in imported red onions rotting in warehouses “without bringing down the price of the farm produce.”
In a statement, Marcos recalled a negative precedent occurring last year “when the National Food Authority imported millions of pesos worth of rice but was unable to bring down market prices significantly.”
Moreover, Marcos said the policy on importing rice from other countries was shown to have “significantly hurt the livelihood” of many Filipino farmers.
The senator issued the statement after the agriculture chief said he allowed the importation of red onions from China to bring down prices.
Traders may bring the red onions into the Philippines starting this month until mid-February, before harvest begins in March.