PORT of Manila— The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) successfully intercepted a 40-foot container filled with undocumented fresh yellow onions, valued at approximately 3.5 million PHP. The shipment was imported from China by JRA and Pearl Enterprise, Inc.
The container arrived at the Port of Manila aboard the vessel Green Pacific on July 16, 2024.

Upon verification of the arrival through the Inward Foreign Manifest (IFM), BPI– Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) at the South Harbor, Port of Manila requested BOC for a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) to inspect the contents of the container which contained 25,000 kgs. of fresh yellow onions.

DA Department Circular no. 4 series of 2016 which outlines the Guidelines on the Importation of Plants, Planting Materials, and Plant Products for Commercial Purposes mandates that such commodity requires Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSIC) issued by the BPI to ensure that the imported article is free from pest and are safe for public consumption.

On October 3, 2024, BPI and BOC officials led by Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban, PhD, and Port of Manila District Collector Rizalino Jose C. Torralba, respectively, presented the confiscated container. They were joined by Assistant Director for Regulatory Services Ruel C. Gesmundo, NPQSD Chief Joan May Tolentino, PQS-South Harbor, Port of Manila Area Manager Henrick B. Exconde, and members of the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE) Team. Through this, the government emphasized the importance of strict regulatory implementation to safeguard Philippine agriculture.

The DA and BOC continue to strengthen their collaboration to protect the country’s borders from illegal activities. This joint effort aligns with the directives of President Bongbong Marcos and DA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. to address unlawful elements that threaten the local economy, agricultural industry, and consumers’ safety.

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