Onion harvest in Bongabon. FB photo
BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – A Nueva Ecija legislator has sought the help of the Bureau of Customs over thereported smuggling into the country of onion from India which is feared to jeopardize the local onion industry.
In a July 3 letter to BOC commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, 3rd District Rep. Rosanna Vergara sought his “assistance regarding our constituents’ concern”, especially farmers from this municipality over “recent reports of alleged smuggling of onions in the country.”
Vergara said that based on reports received by her office, the smuggled bulbs from India landed at theports of Davao, Cebu, and Cagayan De Oro sometime last May.
“We are then deeply alarmed that such alleged smuggling incidents have even coincided with this year’s harvest season and as such, can more adversely affect the livelihood and production of our local farmers, availability of supply and stability of prices,and ultimately, of our country,” Vergara said.
Bongabon, dubbed as the “Onion Basket of the Philippines,” falls within Nueva Ecija’s third congressional district.
Onion is also planted as primary crop, next to rice, in other municipalities such as Laur, Gen. Mamerto Natividad, Sto. Domingo, and San Jose City, among others.
Describing the alleged smuggling incidents as “pressing matter,“ Vergara sought an immediate investigation and “undertaking the appropriate action,” in accordance with Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.
She expressed hope that the BOC’s response “will truly safeguard our local onion industry from the threats of illegal importation and protect the welfare of both farmers and consumers, especially during this crucial time in our history.”
Last June, Mayor Allan Xystus Gamilla brought up this concern to Guerrero and Agriculture Sec. William Dar. Gamilla said the smuggling threatened the onion industry not only “from our town, but as well as the onion farmers and traders from Pangasinan, Mindoro and Tarlac.”
Onion farmers start planting in September until January. White or yellow variety is harvested after 90 days while the red variety is harvested after 120 days.
In this town alone, some 2,300 hectares of farmland here were planted to onions in 2019, based on records from the municipal agriculture office.
