MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is allocating P200 million for onion farmers’ associations to buy their members’ produce in a bid to protect them from price manipulation by traders as harvest season comes into full swing. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) noted that the farmers’ onion produce could be kept in reefer vans and released to the market once prices have stabilized. “I have already ordered to source reefer vans which can be used as temporary storage facilities for the farmers’ onion production,” he said. The BPI has reported that no SPS permits have been issued since October. The moratorium on the issuance of SPS permits will be extended until such time the PCC and NBI have terminated their investigation.

Source: Philippine Star March 24, 2019 21:11 UTC