Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) — House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo said the government is looking into possible solutions as prices of onions increase again, even reaching as high as ₱200 per kilogram.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source on Thursday, Tulfo said senior House officials on Wednesday met with Speaker Martin Romualdez, who expressed concern over the rising cost of onions.
The House leader warned traders and hoarders to release their supply, otherwise authorities will be instructed to raid their storages, Tulfo said.
If it proves ineffective, importation will be implemented upon the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he added.
“Ngayon, wala na sa kamay ng farmers, ng onion growers ‘yung products nila, naibenta na nila, so this is the right time to import from overseas ng mga onion dahil mas mura doon and the government or the importers can sell it to ₱90 per kilo, so malaking kabawasan, ‘yun ang sinasabi ng gobyerno,” Tulfo said.
[Translation: The products of farmers and onion growers are no longer in their hands since they’ve already sold it, so this is the right time to import onions since it’s cheaper and the government or the importers can sell it at ₱90 per kilogram, which is a big relief, that is what the government is saying.]
The government early this year approved the importation of 21,060 metric tons of onions as prices of the produce soared – even reached ₱800 per kilogram.
This time, Tulfo said lawmakers believe that hoarders and traders are taking advantage of the situation when Congress is dealing with other issues, like those involving the West Philippine Sea and the New Bilibid Prison, to increase the prices of onions.
Tulfo said the importation of onions should push traders and hoarders to release their supply, or else these will be wasted.
“Sige pag hindi nyo inilabas ‘yan mabubulok ‘yang stocks ninyo, babahain namin ang market ng mga imported na sibuyas then babagsak ‘yung presyo,” he explained.
[Translation: If you do not release your supply, your stocks will rot, we will flood the markets with imported onions then the price will fall.]
