The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday mentioned the smuggled onions intercepted by authorities weren’t match for consumption after they had been discovered with traces of micro organism.
According to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras”, the federal government initially seemed into re-selling the tons of smuggled produce by means of the Kadiwa shops however an examination confirmed that these had Escherichia coli or E.coli micro organism that causes pneumonia, respiratory tract an infection, and diarrhea, amongst different ailments.
“[It’s] not the proper storage for sibuyas noong nahuli. ‘Pag nabubulok, eh alam mo naman hawa-hawa ‘yan,” mentioned DA Deputy Spokesperson Rex Estoperez.
([It’s] not the correct storage for onions after we seized it. You know, when certainly one of them goes unhealthy, then it is going to unfold. )
Estoperez additionally mentioned there have been additionally chemical and pesticide residues discovered on the merchandise — one more reason the Agriculture division opted to bury the smuggled onions.
‘That’s why we are…siguro pinapaalala lang natin sa ating mga kababayan na even though nakikita niyo ang sibuyas, puti, smuggled, hindi dumaan sa safety analysis,” he said.
(That’s why we’re… reminding the general public that though you see the onion is sweet, [if it is] smuggled then it didn’t endure security evaluation.)
The company is now getting ready to file acceptable costs towards the smugglers. It can be eyeing to register chilly storage services to cease unlawful importation within the nation.
“Pwede kang i-subject sa inspection. Malalaman mo kung visitorial power mo so that you can have a real inventory,” mentioned Estoperez.
(We can topic it to inspection. And you’ll know by means of visitorial powers if they’ve actual stock.)
Meanwhile, the worth of onions in markets are nonetheless between P260 and P280 per kilo, the report mentioned. To stabilize the worth, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) earlier referred to as for the importation of purple and white onions into the nation.
However, some farmers mentioned there ought to be a correct system for the importation for them to keep away from losses, particularly with the nearing harvest season that’s from January to March subsequent 12 months.
“Kinakabahan na naman po ‘yung mga magsasaka. Kasi po oras na umangkat ‘yan, ang tatamaan niyan ay ‘yung magsasaka,” mentioned PESA Onion and Vegetable Farmers Association Chairperson Victor Layog.
(We are getting nervous as a result of as soon as we import, farmers can be affected.)
Import permits on onions have but to be issued, in response to Estoperez. He defined that the DA is ready for over 3,500 metric tons of onions from low season harvests coming from Central and Southern Luzon.
“Sa ngayon, pwede naman tayo makatawid sa Holiday Season. Onion is not a prime commodity naman pero syempre, pang sahog ‘yan,” mentioned Estoperez.
(Right now, we are able to go by means of the Holiday Season. Onion will not be a chief commodity however, in fact, we use it as an ingredient.) — Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News
