MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday it is studying the additional importation of 8, 000 metric tons (MT) of small pelagic fish, considering the effects of successive typhoons in the country.
In an interview, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said this would help maintain stable prices of small pelagic fish in the market, including galunggong, bonito, moonfish, and mackerel.
“Alam natin na ang laki ng problema ng sunud-sunod na bagyo magmula kay Kristine (international name Trami) … hanggang kay Pepito (Man-yi), at isa ang fishery sa naapektuhan (We all know the huge problem caused by the consecutive typhoons from Kristine up to Pepito, and fishery is one of the affected sectors),” De Mesa said.
According to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRM), Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, Typhoon Leon (Kong-rey), Typhoon Nika (Toraji), and Super Typhoon Ofel (Usagi) left an estimated 1, 781.71 metric tons of fish in losses, worth PHP 666.72 million, affecting 6, 082 fishers in hard-hit regions even before the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pepito.
The supplementary volume of fish imports will be on top of the 30,000 MT approved earlier for the closed fishing season.
“Compared to last year, napakababa ng in-allow na importation ng isda ngayong taon. So kayang maidagdag iyong 8, 000. Dati kasi umaabot tayo ng 60, 000 metric tons (the approved importation this year is very low. Thus, we could add the 8, 000 MT. In the past, we were importing as much as 60, 000 metric tons),” De Mesa said.
If approved, the target arrival of the supplemental fish import will be in the first two weeks of December to ensure stable prices amid the holiday celebration. (PNA)