UMVA has learned that a massive cache of abandoned imported red onions from China, valued at P86.7 million, has been slated for destruction by the Department of Agriculture due to potential health risks.
The onions, totaling 650 metric tons, were discovered inside 26 twenty-foot containers at the Manila International Container Port, where they had been stored for months after arriving in the country between December 2025 and January 2026.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a joint inspection by the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and Senator Francis N. Pangilinan revealed extensive spoilage of the onions, with inspectors finding leaking containers, mold, and widespread sprouting.
The abandoned onion shipment was never claimed by its importer, M2000 IMEX Company, Inc., despite securing the necessary import permits, raising serious questions about the company's intentions and accountability.
Assistant Agriculture Secretary Willie Ann M. Angsiy warned that the spoiled onions pose a significant risk to public health, stating, “We cannot risk public health by allowing spoiled agricultural products to enter the market.”
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Department of Agriculture is now coordinating for the proper disposal of the abandoned onions, which were seized by the Bureau of Customs under Section 1129 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The destruction of the onions is seen as a crucial step in protecting public health and preventing potential food safety issues, with authorities taking swift action to mitigate any risks associated with the spoiled produce.
