BONGABON, Nueva Ecija, (PNA) — The Senate Committee on Agriculture held Thursday a hearing in this town to discuss the present policies and practices on the importation of garlic and onions as well as the claims of monopolization of the distribution of the said agricultural products.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said the hearing was in accordance with Senate Resolution no. 238 which she herself passed to conduct an in inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged irregularities on the importation of garlic and onion.
Aside from Villar, the hearing held at the municipal hall here was attended by Agriculture Secretary Proceso and other industry stakeholders such as local government units and farmers.
During the hearing, onion farmers and other stakeholders questioned the process on the issuance of the importation permit.
However, the Bureau of Plant and Industry said it has not issued any importation permit for both red and yellow onions this year, .
According to the Dept. of Agriculture, the country has sufficient stock of red onion at 2.9 million bags or 73,013 metric tons which can last up to March 2014.
But yellow onion has a total stock of 169 metric tons as of Sept. 23, which can last only for two days, it was also reported.
This town is acknowledged to be the onion basket of the Philippines.
BPI assistant director Henry Carpiso said 364 import permits have been given for red onion and another 1,521 for yellow onion in 2008; 145 for red, and yellow, 52 in 2009; 909 for red and for yellow,120 in 2010. .
He said no import permit was released for red onion in 2011 while there were 108 for yellow onion and no permit has been issued to any kind this year.
The last day for issuing import permit is Aug. 10 of every year, Carpiso said.
Villar and Alcala said that while investigation is being conducted on the alleged irregularities in the past, the committee concentrated on finding the solution instead of dwelling on problems.
“We need to move on,” Alcala said.
Villar, on the other hand, encouraged complainants to come up with documents and evidence.