Farmers’ protection pushed amid onion price drop

Lawmakers are pushing for stronger safeguards for farmers as onion prices at the farm gate continue to drop despite rising production costs, raising concerns over market distortions and supply chain issues.

At a Senate hearing in Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija—considered the country’s onion capital—Senator Francis Pangilinan said the ongoing energy crisis is worsening conditions in agriculture, driving up expenses from farm inputs to transport while leaving farmers with shrinking returns.

He pointed out that many producers are forced to sell onions at or near cost, even as retail prices remain elevated, suggesting possible manipulation or inefficiencies in the market chain.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito echoed the concern, warning that the steep decline in farm-gate prices reflects deeper systemic problems.

“Malinaw na may mali sa sistema. Tumataas ang gastos ng ating mga magsasaka – dahil sa langis, pataba, at transportasyon – ngunit ang kanilang kinikita ay patuloy na bumabagsak (It is clear that something is wrong in the system. Farmers’ costs are rising – due to oil, fertilizer, and transport – yet their earnings continue to decline),” Ejercito said.

He stressed that the situation may go beyond normal market fluctuations and could signal structural failures that threaten both livelihoods and food security.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, for his part, questioned the government’s importation policy, noting that local production is already nearing self-sufficiency.

“So, the question is, how much was harvested in 2025? You said 279,000 metric tons is self-sufficient, and we’ve even exceeded that. So why did we import so much – 94,000 metric tons in total in 2025? Our shortfall wasn’t even close to 94,000 metric tons,” Lacson said.

He warned that continued imports during peak harvest season could undermine local producers, a concern shared by Ejercito.

“Excessive and poorly timed importation is not a solution – it is part of the problem… Kung magpapatuloy ito, hindi na po krisis ang haharapin natin – kundi tuluyang pagbagsak ng lokal na produksyon (If this continues, we will face not just a crisis but the collapse of local production),” Ejercito added.

The senators also raised red flags over possible hoarding and profiteering, as well as the widening gap between farm-gate and retail prices, underscoring the need for urgent government action to ensure fair pricing and protect the country’s food supply.