House leader orders committee probe, charges vs onion ‘hoarders’

THE HOUSE Speaker on Sunday directed the agriculture and food committee to conduct a probe and possibly recommend the filing of charges against alleged “unscrupulous traders and hoarders of onion and garlic.”   “Your days are numbered,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said in a statement, calling the suspected hoarding activities an act of economic sabotage.   […]

Mayor proposes bill amendment allowing gov’t to directly buy onions from farmers 

THE MAYOR of Bongabon town in Nueva Ecija, tagged as the “onion capital” of the Philippines, recommended to include a provision in a proposed law that will allow government to buy onions directly from farmers and handle distribution to markets.   At a House committee on agriculture and food meeting on Wednesday, Bongabon Mayor Ricardo I. […]

DTI reminds businesses to comply with price freeze in areas under state of calamity  

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) reminded businesses in areas under a state of calamity to comply with the price freeze for basic necessities.     A total of 86 towns and cities across five regions have declared a state of calamity this month due to flooding and landslides triggered by continuous rains since mid-December, based […]

Local onion farmers can meet demand with adequate gov’t support

THE SENATE minority leader slammed government “decision makers” for pursuing policies in the agriculture industry that choke onion farmers, who can readily meet the country’s demand given ample support.    “Our onion farmers have never been tested because they have never been fully supported in maximizing their output potential,” Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Martin “Koko” […]

Funding for onion farmers at P100 million

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has earmarked more than P100 million to help onion farmers acquire inputs and production facilities. Funding levels for the industry in 2022 so far include P47.48 million for seed, seedlings and fertilizer, P35.67 million for production and post-harvest facilities, irrigation network services, and farm production machinery and equipment, […]

White onion shortage seen as opportunity for farmer direct sales

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) called the white onion shortage an “opportunity” to forge direct links between institutional buyers and growers. The DA said fastfood chains and restaurant owners have advised it of their volume and quality requirements to guide farmers’ planting activities. “A series of consultations and market linkage activities have resulted in the […]