Nueva Ecija solons propose creation of Onion Research Institute

Two proposals to establish an Onion Research Institute as part of efforts to address the lack supply of onions in the country were raised in the Lower House, Tina Panganiban-Perez reported on "Saksi."

The bills were filed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing (1st disrict) and Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Vergara (3rd district).

According to information on the Onion Self-Sufficiency Ratio disclosed during the hearing conducted by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, the country's efficiency rate was at 107% in 2011.

However, after 10 years the figure dropped to 68% and among the factors considered for the decline is the army worms infestation in 2016 and 2018.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that in 2019, 54% of the supply of onions in the country come from Nueva Ecija.

However, there was a decrease in the area for onion plantation.

Vergara provided information that from about 2,300 hectares in 2019 there are now only about 1,400 hectares left in 2020.

"Ang produksyon ng sibuyas sa Nueva Ecija ay nanganganib," Vergara said.

Among the factors she mentioned are: importation, smuggling, hoarding, pest infestation, climate change.

"The timing of the importation is what causes the farm gate prices of the sibuyas to drop," she added.

Suansing, meanwhile, said the country's self-sufficiency has decreased due to limited and lack of support from the government.

Among the proposals is to declare Bongabon town in Nueva Ecija as the "Onion Capital of the Philippines."

"Ito po kasing onion industry natin, lalo na dito po sa bayan po, bumaba po because of the cost of production," said Bongabon Mayor Ric Padilla.

He also suggested that the government buy the products directly from the farmers as part of efforts to stabilize the price of onions and not rely on middlemen.

The Bureau of Plant Industry also said there is a need to address the loss of income of onion farmers due to bad weather, mishandling, and lack of cold storage facility.

Meanwhile, the DA has also offered a program aimed at helping farmers.

In a statement, the DA said the Optimization and Resiliency In the Onion Industry Network or ORION was established "to support, and increase production and income of onion stakeholders of the country."

The House Committee on Agriculture and Food has organized a technical working group to merge the two proposed bills, gather comments and recommendations from different sectors. -- BAP, GMA Integrated News