DTI expects prices of sardines to go down further in April

Citing the stable supply of fish due to the lifting of a fishing ban in the Zamboanga area, trade officials expect prices of sardines to go down further this month. Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said Wednesday sardines makers can no longer cite low supply as an excuse for keeping their prices up. "Sana sa April makita natin tuloy ang pagbaba. Ang ating tututukan ngayon, patuloy sana bumaba ang presyo sa fish port sa Zamboanga, malaking hatak yan pag bumaba ang tamban sa presyo ng sardinas,"  she said in an interview on dzBB radio. Also, she said the Department of Trade and Industry is considering producing a comparative price list to help consumers choose lower-priced alternatives. For now, she said at least two brands have brought down prices of their products by 30 to 50 centavos. Maglaya also said sardines makers cannot cite prices of tin, which is used in making cans, as a reason for raising or keeping prices up. She said that while the fish itself accounts for 40 to 45 percent of the price of canned sardines, the canning accounts for only 25 to 30 percent. "So far wala tayong problema sa lata. Maganda ang presyo ng tin plate so hindi pwede sabihin ito ang dahilan bakit hindi maibaba ang presyo," she said. Maglaya said prices of sardines went up earlier this year due to a fishing ban on Zamboanga from December to February. She said this drove up prices of fish to P33 to 35 a kilo from P20 to 22 per kilo. The DTI allowed sardines makers to raise prices of their products by P1 to P1.50, she said. But now, she said that with the fishing ban lifted, prices have gone down to about P27 per kilo. For now, she said the DTI will continue to monitor prices of sardines in the market. — LBG, GMA News