PASAY CITY, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda has called for a full investigation into the plummeting prices of local onions, demanding accountability from agriculture officials for the “disastrous” overlap between imported stocks and the local harvest season. The senator emphasized that the timing of imports has left Filipino farmers unable to compete, forcing many to sell their produce at a loss or leave crops to rot in the fields.
During a Senate session, Legarda questioned the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on why import permits were cleared just as the peak harvest in major producing provinces like Nueva Ecija and Mindoro was beginning. The influx of foreign onions has reportedly driven farmgate prices down to levels that fail to cover the cost of seeds, fertilizer, and labor.
“We cannot allow our local farmers to be the sacrificial lambs of poor planning and timing,” Legarda stated. “There is a clear disconnect between the arrival of imports and the local harvest cycle. This lack of coordination is not just a technical error; it is a blow to our national food security and the livelihood of thousands of families.”
The senator is pushing for a stricter “harvest window” policy that would legally prohibit the entry of imported agricultural commodities during peak local production periods. She also urged the DA to fast-track the construction of cold storage facilities in key provinces to give farmers the ability to store their surplus and wait for better market prices instead of being forced into “panic selling.”
In response, agriculture officials claimed that the imports were intended to prevent a price spike for consumers, citing previous years where onion prices hit record highs. However, Legarda countered that the current situation represents a failure in market intelligence, calling for a “transparent and data-driven” approach to importation that prioritizes the welfare of the Filipino producer first.