STABLE SUPPLY. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa says in an interview on Friday (April 5, 2024) that the supply and prices of fish remain stable. He said the conclusion of the closed fishing season has helped secure a bountiful supply for the country. (Screengrab)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday it is open to discussions on the impending suspension of the importation of some frozen fish varieties.
This came after some sectors raised concern over the issuance of Department Administrative Order (DAO) 14, series of 2024, suspending the release of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for round scad (galunggong), bonito (tulingan), and mackerel (alumahan).
"Open si Secretary Tiu Laurel sa consultation at sa appeal... Pero kailangan lang natin tingnan bakit nagkaroon ng paglabas ng ganitong desisyon (Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is open to consultation and appeals... But we need to see the reason why this decision was issued)," Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
The DA earlier released the order after receiving reports that imported round scads, mackerel, and bonito were being diverted to wet markets when these were intended for the production of canned goods.
"Bawal naman talaga na magkaroon ng (It's prohibited to have a) diversion," De Mesa said.
In a separate statement, Laurel reiterated that importers, particularly in the canning industry, should not fear facing shortages.
“Technically, importers should be able to import 10 percent more than what they are using now. So, I don’t see any reason why they fear a possible shortage in the supply of mackerel for canning," he said.
Under DAO 14, which takes effect on April 16, the importation of mackerel for canning purposes is allowed, but only at a volume subject to VATable (value-added tax) sales of the canned products from the previous year with an additional 10 percent for buffer.
Laurel said the action would benefit local fishers as the DA cracks down on erring importers, considering that about 100,000 tons of illegally imported fish supply reaches the wet market each year.
Open fishing season
De Mesa, meanwhile, said fish prices in the market would remain stable after the opening of the fishing season.
"Inaasahan natin na iyong ating supply ay maganda dahil nagkaroon tayo ng closed fishing season noong mga nakalipas na buwan. Dahil dito, marami tayong supply (We are expecting a good supply because we had a closed fishing season in the previous months. Because of this, we have a bountiful supply)," he said.
The closed fishing season is implemented to repopulate and improve the growth of fish in the country's major spawning areas.
To date, the average market price per kilogram of several fish remains stable, with galunggong pegged at PHP200 to PHP240, tilapia at PHP120 to PHP150, bangus PHP140 to PHP180 depending on the size, and mackerel at PHP300, De Mesa said. (PNA)
