Legarda seeks probe into onion price collapse, import overlap

AGRI-NEWS | NATIONAL Posted on 2026-03-12 07:13:10

MANILA – Senator Loren Legarda has called for accountability following the sharp drop in farm-gate prices of onions in Nueva Ecija and Occidental Mindoro, warning that the situation is pushing farmers toward financial losses.

The price of onions reportedly fell from around ₱120–₱150 per kilo in January 2026 to only ₱30–₱40 per kilo in February, even as retail prices remain high in Metro Manila markets.

Legarda said the crisis was worsened by the arrival of imported onions during the peak harvest season, limited cold storage availability, and reports of suspicious shipments in Bulacan. She noted that these developments highlight deeper issues in the country’s onion supply chain.

To address the matter, the senator filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 344 on March 11, urging the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to investigate whether the Department of Agriculture, its attached agencies, and local government units followed proper policies on import calibration and cold storage management.

The resolution also aims to hold accountable those involved in illegal importation and the alleged monopoly of onion cartels.

Legarda pointed out that around 4,000 metric tons of imported onions arrived during the harvest season while about 82 percent of the country’s cold storage capacity was already occupied, leaving farmers with limited storage options.

Despite earlier assurances that onion importation would stop by January, records from the Bureau of Plant Industry showed that Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances remained valid until Feb. 15, 2026.

The senator also raised concerns over reports of illegally imported onions from China discovered in Bulacan, which may have created an unrecorded supply in the market and contributed to the decline in farm-gate prices.

Legarda emphasized the need for reforms, including stricter enforcement against agricultural smuggling, possible importation bans during harvest periods, audits of the onion value chain, and the development of cold storage facilities managed by farmers.

She also called for direct government purchases of locally produced onions at support prices to help protect farmers’ livelihoods and prevent similar crises in the future.

NPO News Team | Philippine Information Agency- PR

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