Senator Francis Pangilinan on Monday urged the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Customs to step up anti-smuggling operations ahead of the February onion harvest season.
He warned that illegal onion imports are often timed to flood the market, driving prices down and harming local farmers.
The harvest period, running from February to May, is when smuggling activities typically peak.
Pangilinan emphasized that such illicit imports distort market prices and result in significant losses for Filipino onion growers.
He called for stricter enforcement to safeguard local agriculture and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 30, 2025
