Makabayan solons seek 'immediate' suspension of onion importation

Members of the Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives have filed a resolution seeking the "immediate" suspension of the government's importation of 21,060 metric tons of onion.

In filing House Joint Resolution No. 18, the bloc debunked the justifications made by the government for the importation.

"Contrary to the supposed supply problem in onions being projected by the Marcos Jr. administration, price manipulation, profiteering, and hoarding of onions by cartels and large traders cause the soaring prices of onions in the market," they said.

They also noted that "uncontrollable smuggling" of onions and other agricultural products from China has affected local production.

The lawmakers also said farmers from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro have asked the government to halt the importation ahead of the harvest season as this will cause loss of their earnings.

"Relying on importation as supposedly a means to control prices and address the gap in supply contradicts the long-term interests of the people for agricultural local production development," the Makabayan members pointed out.

They also mentioned the suicide of five onion farmers in Pangasinan reportedly as a result of price manipulation of onions putting them at a disadvantage.

The resolution was filed Friday last week by Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro and Kabataan party-list Representative Danniel Manuel. 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier defended the importation of onions, saying the government had "no choice" but to import, given the gap between production and local demand.

However, Marcos said the administration is looking for ways to increase the production of onions and other products in order to avoid importing them.

Misunderstanding

However, the Agriculture Department said that there appeared to be some sort of misunderstanding as the imported onions only amounted to 5,000 tons.

"Mukhang hindi kami nagkakaintindihan dahil wala namang darating na 21 thousand metric tons," said DA Deputy Spokesperson Rex Estoperez in Mariz Umali's Monday "24 Oras" Report. "Ang paparating natin, base dun sa must arrive, 5,000 metric tons lang at nag umpisa na ngayong dumating."

The DA added that given the size of the importation, there was no danger that these imports would cut into the farmers' profits.

"Bagamat bababa po ang presyo, palagay po namin hindi po sya bababa ng sobra sobra kasi hindi naman po ito tulad ng dati na pag nag iimport po bumabaha po. Again, yung plano po talaga namin ngayon is calibrated," said Estoperez.

Furthermore, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry, the House resolution comes too late and is too close to the January 27 importation deadline.

"Susunod lang naman po tayo sa due process. Pero sa ngayon po kasi, wala pa pong order from the court or from the executive na ipahinto po yung importation ng sibuyas," said Bureau of Plant Industry Spokesperson Jose Diego Roxas. —KBK/DVM, GMA Integrated News