More storage facilities for onion farmers being built, says Villar | Inquirer News

More storage facilities for onion farmers being built, says Villar

/ 01:06 AM November 16, 2023

Sen. Cynthia Villar

Sen. Cynthia Villar (File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — More cold storage facilities are being built in various places nationwide as part of government efforts to curb the skyrocketing prices of onions, Sen. Cynthia Villar on Wednesday evening.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) donates these storage facilities to farmer cooperatives, Villar said during the Senate debates on the proposed 2024 DA budget.

Article continues after this advertisement

In his interpellation, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III asked Villar, the sponsor of the DA budget, how the agency was planning to address the rising onion prices in the country.

FEATURED STORIES

READ: New DA chief’s maiden mission: Tame soaring agri prices

READ: DA seeks help of local gov’ts to monitor cold storage facilities

Article continues after this advertisement

“We are building nine [storage facilities] costing P374 million, but in addition, in the Agriculture Economic Sabotage Law, we are penalizing [smugglers and hoarders],” Villar said.

Article continues after this advertisement

A single storage facility costs about P40 million.

Article continues after this advertisement

Data from the DA showed that a total of 16 facilities have so far been built and awarded to farmers since 2018.

According to Villar, the following cold storage facilities were built in 2023:

Article continues after this advertisement
  • two in Occidental Mindoro
  • two in Nueva Ecija
  • one in Bataan
  • one in Nueva Vizcaya
  • one in Pangasinan

Meanwhile, storage facilities in 2024 will be built in the following provinces:

  • one in Pangasinan
  • one in Nueva Vizcaya
  • one in Isabela
  • two in Nueva Ecija
  • one in Pampanga
  • one in Tarlac
  • one in Oriental Mindoro
  • one in Occidental Mindoro

Villar said the DA would now penalize cooperatives who lease their storage facilities to middlemen.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Cynthia Villar, Department of Agriculture, onion farmers, onion storage facilities

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.