January 10, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The state-run Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) has been ordered to assist farmers in Pangasinan whose onion farms were destroyed by armyworms.
Arnel de Mesa, spokesman for the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the armyworm infestation in Pangasinan is an isolated case.
De Mesa said the DA is monitoring and ready to address the situation.
“Armyworms are traditional pests. The infestation usually happens during this period, especially when summer is nearing. The RCPC is monitoring the situation. It is a standard protocol for the RCPC to act in times like this,” De Mesa said.
The armyworm infestation will not affect the country’s onion production this year, he said.
“Last year, we reported a significant increase as more than 40 percent was added to onion production. Most likely, it will be the same this year,” De Mesa said, adding that the government did not import red onions because of the increase in production.
“We imported only white onions last year. Bureau of Plant Industry chief Glenn Panganiban said we could sustain the supply of red onions until the first quarter of this year since harvest season is near. No import permit will be issued on red onions for now,” he said.
Based on the DA monitoring in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of local red onions ranged between P100 and P180 per kilo, local white onions between P100 and P160, and imported white onions between P180 and P200 per kilo.
In 2022, the retail price of onions surged to P720 per kilo due to shortage and hoarding.
De Mesa said at least P1.6 billion has been allocated for setting up cold storage facilities nationwide to preserve farm products.
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