In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

BFAR sees 'galunggong' prices declining as supply increases

By Stephanie Sevillano

February 6, 2023, 4:35 pm

<p><strong>PRICES TO DROP</strong>. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic spokesperson Nazario Briguera says Monday (Feb. 6, 2023) prices of local blue mackerel scad may soon drop. In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas, Briguera said the price decline is expected following the end of the close fishing season in the northeast portion of Palawan. <em>(Screengrab) </em></p>

PRICES TO DROP. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic spokesperson Nazario Briguera says Monday (Feb. 6, 2023) prices of local blue mackerel scad may soon drop. In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas, Briguera said the price decline is expected following the end of the close fishing season in the northeast portion of Palawan. (Screengrab) 

MANILA – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday said prices of locally produced blue mackerel scad or "galunggong" are expected to decline in the second week of February as supply increases.

In a teleradio interview, BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera made this projection following the end of the closed fishing season in Palawan province.

Nagtapos po nung January 31 ang closed fishing season for the local sa Palawan. At inaasahan natin na ‘yung ating commercial fishing vessels ay muli nang papalaot doon para mangisda ng galunggong (The closed fishing season in Palawan ended last Jan. 31. And we are expecting that our commercial fishing vessels will be back to harvest blue mackerel scads),” he said.

Makakakita na tayo ng mas maraming supply ng locally produced galunggong sa ating mga palengke. Alam naman natin na kapag dumami na ang supply dahil tapos na ang closed fishing season, inaasahan natin na bababa na ang presyo nito (We will see higher volume of locally produced galunggong supply in our markets. We know that if the supply increases, we expect its prices to go down),” he said.

Briguera refers to the northeast portion of Palawan, which is considered a primary fishing ground for galunggong.

“According to the study of the national stock assessment program ng NFRDI (of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute), this is the primary spawning ground of blue mackerel scads,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.

However, Briguera said it would take at least two weeks for supplies to reach Metro Manila.

“We need to also take into account the volume duration of the commercial fishing vessels,” he added.

Technical personnel said fishing vessels would take around three days from Navotas to Palawan, and another three days to go back for transport delivery.

To date, the supply of blue mackerel scad is not yet available in the New Las Piñas public market, Guadalupe market, San Andres market, Quinta market, Pasay City market, Commonwealth market and Malabon central market.

The prevailing prices, meanwhile, range from PHP220 to PHP260 per kilogram in several markets in Metro Manila. (PNA)

 

Comments