Customs finds P86.7-M abandoned onion shipment from China

An estimated P86.684 million worth of fresh red onions imported from China were found abandoned at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), with more than P9 million in duties and taxes left unpaid, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Wednesday.

According to the BOC, the shipments were 72,215 bags with a manifested gross weight of 650,000 kilograms. These were found to have P9.648 million in total equivalent duties and taxes, of which P9.073 million were unpaid.

The BOC said permits were issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), but the consignee failed to process and release the shipment, leaving the integrity and quality to deteriorate and may no longer be hit for human consumption.

The BPI has since recommended that the shipment not be released to the local market due to the issues, along with the peak harvest season of local onion farmers.

“We will continue to act on all reports involving suspicious, unclaimed, or abandoned shipments, lalo na ang mga agricultural products na maaaring makaapekto sa ating mga magsasaka, konsyumer, at lehitimong negosyante,” BOC commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.

“Mananatiling matatag ang BOC sa pagpapatupad ng batas nang may transparency at accountability,” he added.

(We will continue to act on all reports involving suspicious, unclaimed, or abandoned shipments, especially agricultural products that could affect our farmers, consumers, and legitimate businesses. The BOC will remain steadfast in enforcing the law with transparency and accountability.)

The shipments were inspected by Nepomuceno, along with Senate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who questioned why such shipments were abandoned.

“Kung lehitimo ang shipment na ito, bakit iniwan na lamang at hindi na-claim? Bakit hindi binayaran ang kaukulang buwis at mga bayarin? Dapat masagot ito upang mapanagot ang mga nasa likod nito at maprotektahan ang ating mga magsasaka,” Pangilinan said in a post on X.

INSPEKSYON SA ₱86-M NA IMPORTED NA SIBUYAS SA MICP

Ngayong umaga, June 10, kasama natin ang Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), at Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) sa isinagawang inspeksyon ng 26 containers na naglalaman ng tinatayang ₱86 milyong halaga ng… pic.twitter.com/a3h39NUyq8

— Kiko Pangilinan (@kikopangilinan) June 10, 2026

“Bakit tayo mag-iimport kung marami ngang supply dito sa atin? Ito ang tanong na paulit-ulit na lumabas sa ating public hearing. Ang pagpasok ng imported onions sa panahon ng oversupply ay lalo lamang nagpapabagsak sa presyo at nagpapahirap sa ating mga magsasaka,” he added.

(If the shipment was legitimate, why was it abandoned and unclaimed? Why were the corresponding taxes and duties not paid? These questions must be answered so that those behind this can be held accountable and our farmers are protected.

Why should we import when there is sufficient supply here? This was a question that repeatedly came up during our public hearing. The entry of imported onions during a period of oversupply only drives prices down further and makes life more difficult for our farmers.) —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA News