Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20) – A fisherfolk group on Sunday slammed the government’s plan to import 35,000 metric tons (MT) of frozen fish varieties for wet markets, saying “imports are detrimental to the livelihood of fishers.”
In a statement, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said instead of importing frozen fish varieties, the government should provide fuel subsidies and post-harvest facilities to fisherfolk amid the closed fishing season.
“We have been consistently calling that prior to the three-month closed fishing season every last quarter of the year; the local production should be strengthened by providing support to fishers, such as a fuel subsidy,” he added.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved the importation of frozen fish, including round scad, bigeye scad, mackerel, bonito, and moonfish for wet markets from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
The DA said the import clearances will be first implemented from Oct. 1 to 30. A second tranche will begin from Nov. 6 to 30.
Armbulo cited a situation in Palawan where the farmgate price of galunggong plummeted from ₱80 to ₱100 per kilogram to ₱50 to ₱60 per kilogram due to the influx of “cheap but stale” imported fish.
“It is unacceptable that just because there is a temporary ban on catching round scad, there will be imports of them and other fish,” Armbulo said.
“The government itself should take the lead in urging the support for our country’s local fish instead of imported ones,” he added.
According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, northern Palawan’s annual galunggong closed fishing season is implemented from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.
Other fishing grounds affected by the closed fishing season include some parts of the Visayas and Bicol Region.
