Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, who was reelected as Agriculture committee chairperson, questioned P86 million worth of onion imports amid spoilage of local onion supply, according to a report from BusinessWorld.
“If this is what’s happening, we need to ask why such a large volume of imported onions is still coming in despite sufficient local supply,” Mr. Pangilinan said in a statement. The senator’s query comes as farmers report oversupply and spoilage of locally grown onions, raising concerns about the government’s import policies and their impact on agricultural sustainability.
The issue highlights ongoing challenges in the Philippine agricultural sector, where poor planning and coordination between importation and domestic production often lead to waste. Pangilinan’s committee is expected to conduct hearings to determine the rationale behind the continued importation and to propose measures to protect local farmers.