Customs shreds imported onions

CEBU, Philippines - Because it is illegal to import onions, the Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu yesterday “condemned” the estimated P1.2 million worth of onions that arrived in Cebu from India.

The shipment that arrived last March 13, 2012 was forfeited in favor of the government by BOC district collector Ronnie Silvestre last April 10, 2012.

The consignee of the shipment is identified as Sabine Star Trading located at barangay Alang-Alang in Mandaue City.

Marina Hermoso, plant quarantine-in-charge of the Bureau of Plant Industry-Plant Quarantine Service, said that aside from having no import permit, the shipment has no phytosanitary certificate from the port of origin.

She said the onion looks clean and in good condition but there is no way of knowing whether these are safe for human consumption, in the absence of said certificate. But anyway, she pointed out, any imported onions coming into the country are really illegal considering that this is not allowed by the Philippine government.

“The Philippines does not allow importation of imported onions,” said Hermoso after the shredding of the said shipment at the Department of Agriculture’s extension office in Mandaue City.

Atty. Dante Maranan, BOC officer-in-charge of the Auction and Cargo Disposal Unit, has recommended to Silvestre that the onions be condemned and destroyed. 

The shredded onions will be made into fertilizer.

Tomasita Cadungog, DA-7 technical regional director, said that the government is duty bound to protect our local onion growers, thus any shipment has to be confiscated.

Maranan said this is the first time the bureau apprehended imported onions in Cebu since it is not that rampant as in other places.

There was no misdeclaration of the contents of the shipment. “That’s why after looking at the manifest, dakop dayon,” he said.

Currently, DA-BPI is testing a seven-hectare lot in the province of Siquijor that is planted with onions. Siquijor is aiming to be the onion capital for Central Visayas.

Most of the country’s local onions are source from Luzon specifically in Nueva Ecija. Hermoso said she does not have any idea whether the onions produced in Luzon are enough for the country’s consumption.

Imported onions are reportedly cheaper than local ones which are currently sold at P50 per kilo at the farms and sold at P80 per kilo in the markets.- Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (THE FREEMAN)