A resolution has been filed seeking a Senate investigation into the increasing market prices of local onions.
Imported red onions, estimated to be worth P20 million, meanwhile were recently seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and its intelligence branch at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) sub-port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
Senator Imee Marcos, who filed Senate Resolution 350, said that there is a need to determine the cause and ensure that the Bureau of Plant and Industry’s (BPI) recommendation to import onions will not “kill the local onion production or industry.”
She cited Administrative Circular No. 09 issued by the Department of Agriculture (DA) last October 7 which sets the suggested retail price for red onions at P170 per kilogram in Metro Manila, GMA News reported.
However, Marcos noted that the prices of red onions in public markets remained high despite the government’s imposition of a price cap.
Citing DA data, the senator said majority of Metro Manila public markets are still selling local red onion at P280 to P300 per kilogram as of November 29.
Marcos also noted that the BPI has supposedly recommended the importation of onions to stem the surging prices of red onions and combat the supply shortage due to crop damage from Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in October 2022 and increasing demand this holiday season.
Further, she cited a news article dated November 30 where Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) president Rosendo So has warned that the retail prices of onions could reach P400 per kilo due to shortage, GMA News further reported. She quoted So as claiming that some DA officials were allegedly conniving with traders to manipulate the supply of onions.
The BOC meanwhile reported that the seizure of the red onions occurred at a time when the price of red onions in the local market has reached as high as P500 per kilo during the Christmas season.
In an interview Monday, lawyer Justin Roman Geli, chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in Northern Mindanao, said contraband from China was wrongfully declared as bread and pastries.
“Examination of Alerted Shipment consigned to Asterzenmed Inc. with Bill of Lading (BL) nos. SITTARCD1460239 and SITTARCD145254 with container numbers TLLU1127887 and OTPU6548034 declared as Bread and Pastries found positive to contain undeclared onions,” a report from the CIIS said.
Geli said the two container vans were loaded with about 50,000 kilos of red onions. It arrived at the MCT on Dec. 21 and seized on the same day.
“We have already requested for an issuance of warrant seizure and detention of the shipment,” he said.
BOC-10 said District Collector Alexandra Lumontad has issued a pre-lodgement control order against the imported cargo following a joint request from the CIIS and the Customs’ Enforcement and Security Service.
Lumontad issued a stern warning against unscrupulous individuals attempting to defraud the government of lawful revenues.
“Even during the holiday season, we will not wane our guards against agricultural smuggling, which affects our revenue collection for not only the government coffers but also our local farming industry,” he said.
Warrants of Seizure and Detention were issued against the shipments for misdeclaration in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Department of Agriculture regulations.