Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will establish the country’s first onion research and extension center dedicated to revitalize the “Sibuyas” industry and fittingly locate it in Bongabon, the Philippines’ leading onion producer.
In addition to the research and extension center, the DA chief promised to help Bongabon’s farmers learn new technologies to boost farm productivity benchmarking from China’s best practices. He also vowed to double the funding for the procurement of pheromone lures, allocating up to P5 million to help onion farmers combat army worms.
Secretary Tiu Laurel said that the DA will also begin sourcing better onion seeds to help farmers increase their yields. “Our goal is clear: Make the Philippines self-sufficient in onion production, eliminate the need for imports, and increase the income of local farmers,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel during the Sibuyas Festival. He vowed support to strengthen technical capabilities with farmers cooperatives’ and urged Bongabon Mayor Ricardo Padilla and local government officials to actively participate in DA programs aimed at ensuring food security and price stability, and in curbing smuggling activities that affects onion farmers’ livelihood.
While Nueva Ecija is known as the Philippines’ top rice producer, it is also the leading producer of onions, with Bongabon at the forefront. Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2024 data, approximately 12,726.11 hectares of farmland in Central Luzon were planted with onions, producing 158,088.41 metric tons – 59.80 percent of the national output. Bongabon accounted for about a quarter of the region’s onion production, or roughly 15 percent of the country’s total output last year.
Region Field Office III director Eduardo Lapuz said the planned research center in Bongabon, which will be set up in the Bongabon Agricultural Trading Center compound, will be the first in the country and will help develop ways to better combat onion pests and diseases, improve seed quality, and bolster farm yields.
The national onion harvest reached 264,323.89 metric tons in (PSA, 2024), a 4.48 percent increase from 2023. However, this still fell short of the projected demand of 270,000 metric tons this year.
In 2022, onion production rose to 241,033.09 metric tons, marking a 10.54% increase from 2021. This growth occurred amidst a backdrop of record-high prices, which were driven by a supply shortage that was worsened by delayed imports.
Prices for onions, an essential ingredient in Philippine cuisine, reached a record high of P700 per kilo in 2022. Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) estimated monthly consumption at 17,000 metric tons for red onions and 4,000 metric tons for white onions.
Secretary Tiu Laurel noted the increasing trend in production in the country along with the capacity of local farmers to produce onions, will be sufficient to meet domestic demand and ensure stable prices.
In addition to post-harvest facilities, the DA offers production support services, including high-quality seeds, farm inputs, fertilizers, and pest and disease management assistance to boost output and improve quality.
