With extra provide coming after Malacanang allowed its importation, the value of onion out there is seen to drop to P100 to P150 per kilo, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
According to a “24 Oras” report by Mariz Umali, DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez stated the imports ought to arrive on or earlier than January 27 in order to not coincide with the harvest season of native onion growers subsequent month.
“From now until the 27th, ang tinitingnan natin, bababa ang presyo dahil ang sinasabi ko nga we have to address also the inflation ng red onions….Kailangan nating magbigay din ng limit kung kailan at kung ang volume dahil naman sa proteksyon natin sa ating mga magsasaka,” he stated.
“Dapat hindi siya bumaba dun sa cost of production ng ating mga magsasaka. The cap siguro from P100 to P150,” he added.
Several farmers in some components of the nation, nonetheless, are dismayed over the choice to import as they’ve began to reap the bulb. They stated they may discover it laborious to get better their price of manufacturing if costs of the imported onions might be too low.
“Tumaas na noon kaya lang hindi pwede hukayin ito eh, ngayon at mababa eh hindi na kami makakabawi,” a farmer stated.
Some farmers additionally known as on the administration concentrate on offering help to their wants.
“Sabi nila mahal yung sibuyas, hindi naman nila iniisip mahal na gamot at abono,” Rogel Santiago, a farmer, said.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. greenlighted the importation of 21,000 metric tons of purple and white onions to arrest its hovering costs.
The DA stated 50% of the imported onion merchandise might be distributed to Luzon whereas Visayas and Mindanao will obtain 25% every.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman will examine the DA and the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) over their alleged buy of onion merchandise from a cooperative for P537 per kilo.
The DA stated it’s open for the probe. GMA News reached out to the FTI for remark nevertheless it has but to reply.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News
