DAVAO CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Zamboanga City destroyed some 71,551 kilos of smuggled onions on Saturday following complaints by residents who smelled the foul odor coming from the compound where it was stored while others experienced headache.
The Agriculture regional office announced that the confiscated red onions were buried within the compound of the Department of Agriculture Research Center compound in Sitio San Ramon, Barangay Talisayan.
Dr. Floralie Yeo Floriano, Bureau of Plant and Industry Quarantine Officer, told Philippine News Agency that the onions pose a risk to consumers since they have no phytosanitary permit from the port of origin.
The onions came from India and were sold to a business firm in Malaysia. Authorities seized the onions when they were shipped by smugglers to Zamboanga City via the province of Tawi-Tawi.
“There was no directive from our central office that it can be donated. So automatically, it will be destroyed, because the onions are not fit for human and animal health,” Floriano said.
The smuggled onions were buried in the presence of officials and representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs, Department of Agriculture, City Government, and local police.
Reports said the rotten onions have posed health hazards as residents living near the research center who complained about of bad odor.-ezc with report from PNA
