Kadiwa caravans get seized onions
Estoperez also allayed fears on the safety of the white onions that officials allegedly snuck into the nation and confiscated in bags.
Daily TribuneEstoperez also allayed fears on the safety of the white onions that officials allegedly snuck into the nation and confiscated in bags.
To lessen the burden on Filipinos amid surging onion prices in the market, the Department of Agriculture announced on Sunday that it could sell government-seized onions at Kadiwa ng Pasko sites for a lower price.
In a radio interview, DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said that they are planning to sell the onions once these commodities are determined to conform to phytosanitary import regulations.
Estoperez also allayed fears on the safety of the white onions that officials allegedly snuck into the nation and confiscated in bags.
"The officials seized many onions. But the question is, are they legal or safe if we sell them in markets and Kadiwa? We have to check if these onions are safe before we release them; we have to subject them to a phytosanitary inspection first," Estoperez said.
"Usec. (Domingo) Panganiban told us, 'Okay, let's inspect and then sell them at Kadiwa sites so Filipinos could buy affordable onions,'" he added.
Estoperez stressed that officials have already checked the stockpiles of onions in cold storage facilities since the matter regarding the rise in onion prices was brought up.
He added that there are currently 13,000 metric tons of red onions in stock, and 5,000 metric tons more are expected to be harvested by the first or second week of December.
Despite prior claims that the agency was evaluating the possibility of importing onions to meet market demand, Estoperez emphasized that the DA still needs to grant a certificate of necessity to import.
"We haven't issued a certificate of necessity to import, hence all those onions coming in appear illegal," Estoperez said.
On the possibility of eventually importing onions, Estoperez said that it would be necessary to balance the needs of consumers and farmers, adding that the DA is examining whether producers selling meat and fish could begin to use Kadiwa locations.
"Our issue is that we cannot man the Kadiwa stores selling pork and fish," Estoperez said. "But maybe we can pull it off if we work with the commercial sector, which can offer cold storage."
An initiative of the Office of the President and headed by the DA, the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan seeks to promote reasonably priced, high-quality goods.
The initiative offers consumers the chance to purchase reasonably priced goods and gives local agricultural producers and micro, small and medium-sized businesses access to a market.
