In the Philippines, onions have become incredibly expensive. According to local residents, this vegetable is now worth its weight in gold and is a luxury food that few can afford, writes the “Postimees” portal.
Philippine officials warned travelers not to bring onions without special permission, and onions worth millions of Philippine pesos were reportedly seized in the raids, theguardian.com reported.
Local media reports that last year officials confiscated onions worth 500-600 million pesos (8-10 million euros). Vegetables accounted for 30 percent of smuggled agricultural produce.
Ateneo de Manila University professor Leonardo Lanzona said the increase in onion prices was unprecedented. At the end of December in Manila, the price of a kilogram reached 720 pesos (12 euros), which is higher than the daily minimum wage of 533-570 pesos (9-9.6 euros) in the national capital region. Onion prices fluctuate, but a kilogram of onions still costs more than a whole chicken.
This week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the country’s food price inflation as an emergency.
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