THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to import an additional 8,000 metric tons of small pelagic fish, aiming for delivery in early December. This move is intended to prevent price spikes in fish, particularly galunggong (round scad), mackerel, moon fish, and bonito, due to the recent series of storms and ongoing closed fishing seasons in certain areas.
DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa stated that the importation is a preventative measure, explaining that the closed fishing season and the recent storms could potentially disrupt fish supply and lead to price increases. “We just want to ensure that there will be no problem later on,” de Mesa said at a press briefing on Tuesday in Quezon City.
The DA is expected to make a final decision on the importation within the coming week, with the imported fish shipments anticipated to arrive within the first two weeks of December.
This planned importation adds to the 30,000 MT of imported fish already approved by the DA in October. “It has to arrive before the end of the year,” de Mesa emphasized.
The DA’s price monitoring data reveals a slight increase in local galunggong prices in Metro Manila markets, from P220 to P340 per kilo on October 18 to a range of P240 to P320 per kilo as of November 18. Imported galunggong is currently priced at P240 per kilo, compared to the previous month’s range of P210 to P300 per kilo.
metrosundaily
