Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan renewed calls for stronger safeguards for local farmers on Wednesday, June 10, joining officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in inspecting 26 twenty-foot containers loaded with an estimated ₱86 million worth of imported red onions at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
“Habang nabubulok ang sibuyas ng ating mga magsasaka, ito namang imported onions ay nabulok din matapos maiwan at hindi ma-claim. Kung ganito ang nangyayari, kailangan nating tanungin kung bakit may pumapasok pang ganitong kalaking volume ng imported onions sa kabila ng sapat na lokal na suplay,” Pangilinan said.
As local onions spoil in storage and farmers struggle to sell their harvests, the seizure underscores a persistent concern raised by growers in Nueva Ecija: Imported onions continue to enter the market despite ample local supply.
“Kung lehitimo ang shipment na ito, bakit iniwan na lamang at hindi na-claim? Bakit hindi binayaran ang kaukulang buwis at mga bayarin? Dapat masagot ito upang mapanagot ang mga nasa likod nito at maprotektahan ang ating mga magsasaka.” Pangilinan said.
The senator said the seizure validates the concerns raised by farmers during the public hearing he convened in Nueva Ecija on March 26, 2026 under Senate Resolution No. 344, which investigated the collapse of onion farm-gate prices and the continued entry of imported onions despite local oversupply.
“Bakit tayo mag-iimport kung marami ngang supply dito sa atin? Ito ang tanong na paulit-ulit na lumabas sa ating public hearing. Ang pagpasok ng imported onions sa panahon ng oversupply ay lalo lamang nagpapabagsak sa presyo at nagpapahirap sa ating mga magsasaka.” he added.
The shipments arrived between December 13, 2025 and January 23, 2026. The containers were declared abandoned under the CMTA after importers failed to claim the goods and pay the required duties and taxes within the prescribed period. Subsequent inspection by authorities revealed P86 million worth of red onions from China.
Pangilinan, the re-elected chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, vowed to push for greater protection for local farmers.
“Hindi dapat nabubulok ang sibuyas ng ating mga magsasaka, at hindi rin dapat nasasayang ang mga produktong pumapasok sa bansa. Ang kailangan natin ay maayos na pamamahala ng suplay, mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng batas, at mga polisiyang inuuna ang kapakanan ng ating mga magsasaka,” Pangilinan said.