28 September, 2023, 2:32 am Central - 21°C Rain

How onions became a luxury in the Philippines

How onions became a luxury in the Philippines

By Alipate Narawa
Saturday 28/01/2023
[Photo: Yahoo News]

According to official statistics, the price of onions surged in the Philippines to around USD$12.80 per kg last month.

That is more than the cost of meat, and the Southeast Asian country's daily minimum wage.

The staple ingredient in Filipino cuisine has become a symbol of the rising cost of living.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who is also the agriculture secretary earlier this month approved the import of red and yellow onions in an attempt to boost supply.

Onions have been so sought after that April Lyka Biorrey chose to carry a bouquet of the crop at her wedding in Iloilo City.

Biorrey asked her groom if they could use onions instead of flowers, since after the wedding the flowers would wilt and end up being thrown away.

Earlier this month, 10 crew members from Philippine Airlines were investigated for attempting to smuggle nearly 40kg of onions and fruits into luggage bags.

Source: BBC 




fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
FEATURE NEWS
EbayShop recruitment scam - 1700 complaints valued at around $3.6 million received so far
The total of number complaints received regarding the EbayShop recruitment scam by the Consumer Council of Fiji, Fijian Competition and Consumer Commi...
4 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Urgent call for increased crime-prevention measures and patrols following increasing reports of break-ins at Bureta St and Levuka St in Samabula and Lami
An urgent call for increased crime-prevention measures and police patrols is being made by residents of Bureta Street and Levuka Street in Samabula ...
9 hours ago

“Violence Against Children In Fiji” report says opportunity and security are key drivers of child abuse
The recent launch of the “Violence Against Children In Fiji” report states that drivers of violence against children are a combination of factors ...
9 hours ago

Senior NFP member Priscilla Singh disagrees with the proposed Local Government Electoral Act
Senior National Federation Party member and former councillor of the Suva City Council, Priscilla Singh says she stands with her party on ...
9 hours ago

$250,000 refurbished Makoi Health Centre commissioned
About 32,000 people now have access to an improved health facility as the new waiting area and refurbished Makoi Health Centre has been ...
11 hours ago

70% of domestic violence cases occur in iTaukei families and 74% are in Christian families - Tabuya
Ten communities in the province of Tailevu have made a promise to protect women, girls and children from violence after they signed their commitment ...
11 hours ago
IN DEPTH
EBayShop Online Recruitment scam
The Consumer Council of Fiji has issued a public alert about a group of individuals running a deceptive pyramid scheme known as “EbayShop Online Recruitment.”
3 days ago

7 Grace Road Group executives declared prohibited immigrants in Fiji after decisions by the South Korean Government and a request by Interpol
7 Grace Road executives in Fiji have been declared prohibited immigrants by the Fijian Government, it has been made clear through government ...
3 days ago

Bainimarama and Qiliho’s trial
The trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho begins
41 days ago

TOP