Villar says Filipinos can live without galunggong

Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday warned the public against the consumption of galunggong amid concerns it may be tainted with formalin.

Villar urged everyone to eat vegetables instead as she expressed her opposition to the government's plan to import galunggong or round scad.

"Bakit pa tayo mag-iimport, maghanap na lang tayo ng alternative kung sinasabi ninyong may formalin ang galunggong. Pwede naman tayong mabuhay nang walang galunggong. Kumain tayo ng gulay," she told reporters. "Better safe than sorry."

Villar is the chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee.

The group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas) claimed that some imported seafood products, including galunggong, have been injected with formalin to be sold in Philippine markets.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said last week that formalin is a toxic substance and could not be used as a preservative for any fish or meat for consumption.

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), however, said last Friday that the collected samples of galunggong from three public markets tested negative for formalin.

No formalin was injected in the samples of galunggong (round scad) collected from Balintawak Market, Cubao Farmer’s Market, and Navotas Fish Port on August 22, the bureau said.

“It must be noted, however, that based on laboratory analysis, low levels of Formaldehyde were detected. Formaldehyde is a chemical compound which naturally develops when the fish dies," BFAR said.

Malacañang, meanwhile, assured that formalin-tainted galunggong will not enter the country.

“We will only allow importation of galunggong provided it is not preserved with the use of formalin,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News