MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered the disposal of an abandoned shipment of imported onions at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) after laboratory tests found the cargo unsafe for human consumption.

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) recommended the destruction of the shipment following a joint inspection with the Bureau of Customs, which determined that the onions were already heavily spoiled.

The shipment is composed of 26 twenty-foot containers carrying 72,215 bags of red onions imported from China, with a total volume of about 650 metric tons. The cargo, valued at around P86.7 million, also has an estimated P9.7 million in unpaid duties and taxes.

According to the BPI, the onions were part of shipments that arrived between December 2025 and January 2026 but were later abandoned by the importer for still unknown reasons.

Authorities said prolonged storage and inadequate handling caused the onions to deteriorate significantly. Inspectors found signs of sprouting, rotting, fungal growth, discoloration, and a strong foul odor throughout the shipment.

Laboratory analysis confirmed that the onions are no longer fit for human consumption, prompting the recommendation for their immediate destruction.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. supported the move, saying public health should take precedence over the value of the cargo.

“The results of the laboratory analysis clearly show that the shipment poses serious health risks and is no longer fit for human consumption. We cannot allow these to enter the market,” Tiu Laurel said. “The proper course of action is the immediate destruction of the entire consignment.”

The BPI also warned that the deteriorated onions pose logistical and biosecurity risks, noting that abandoned perishable goods occupy valuable port space and could contribute to contamination and pest infestation.

Officials said photo and video documentation of the shipment would be sufficient for evidentiary purposes because of the extent of the spoilage, making additional laboratory testing unnecessary.

The shipment is equivalent to roughly one day of the country’s onion consumption.

Authorities said the case highlights the continuing challenge posed by abandoned food imports, which can become environmental, health, and logistical concerns when left unattended at port facilities.