THE Bureau of Plant Industry denied reports that smuggled onions that came from Holland are now flooding the markets of Cagayan de Oro.

According to the BPI, nearly all available supplies came from Luzon.

According to Officer-In-Charge and BPI Region X Manager Arnold dela Cruz Jr. said that they conducted an investigation into the market monitoring by various offices of the Department of Agriculture.

This disproved claims that there is rampant smuggling of onions in Cagayan de Oro had depressed prices.

Likewise, Dela Cruz said that the regional office had continuously monitored markets in the area.

This is being done in collaboration with the DA Regional Field Office and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service.

According to the Plant Industry based on their price monitoring, in Cagayan de Oro City, wholesale prices of red onion—both local and imported—were between P50 and P65 a kilo, while imported white onions sold for P65 to P70 per kilo.

Meanwhile, retail price per kilo of local red onions was between P90 and P170, imported red onions were at P100, while imported white onions were priced between P90 and P180 per kilo.