Following reports of E. coli-contaminated smuggled onions in other areas, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) confirmed that no such onions have entered Pangasinan markets.
“’Yun (smuggled imported onion) ay naharang naman ng DA. So far, wala tayong report na nakapasok na dito sa ating lalawigan,” SINAG Chairperson Engr. Rosendo So said.
He added that SINAG has been monitoring bagsakan markets and public markets across the province strictly to ensure that onions being sold are safe.
At the Mangaldan Public Market, vendors say they haven’t sold imported onions for nearly half a year. Instead, they’ve been sourcing local onions from Urdaneta City, which is harvested mostly from Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.
“Mas maganda kasi ang local at saka mas safe kaysa imported,” Ernesto Aquino, an onion vendor, said.
Consumers like Lanie Cabrera agree that buying local onions is the better option.
“Mas okey na ito, mas safe na bilhin kapag native na sibuyas,” she said.
But many are now feeling the pinch of higher prices. Just this week, the price of red onions jumped by P10 per kilo.
“Kahit hindi pasok sa budget, talagang bibili kasi kailangan. Pero ngayon, puting sibuyas ang binili ko, mas mura,” Belen Bautista, a shopper, said.
As of July 8, 2025, here are the prices at the Mangaldan Public Market:
- Red onions: P140–P150/kg
- White onions: P90/kg
- Garlic: P140/kg
- Ginger: P200/kg
