DA says fish supply, prices stable in NCR Plus

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said fish supply and prices have stabilized in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its adjacent provinces Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna, collectively known as NCR plus.

“This favorable condition was due to the peak season in the country's major fishing grounds, as well as from the DA's efforts to ensure food security amid the pandemic,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement.

“During the second week of the month, from April 8 to 14, total volume of marine fish catch unloaded at the Navotas Fish Port Complex amounted to 3,760 metric tons (MT), 200 MT more than the previous week,” Dar said.

Quoting reports from the DA's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), the Agriculture chief said the “unloadings consisted mainly of galunggong totalling 2,280 MT, and the rest was a combination of turay, tulingan, tunsoy, tamban, squid, matambaka, gulyasan, dalagang bukid, and shrimps.”

He noted that these were caught from the country's major fishing grounds, namely the waters off eastern and northern Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Visayan Sea.

Supply of bangus and tilapia was also abundant, coming from fishpens and fishponds in Bulacan, Pangasinan, Taal Lake in Batangas, and Laguna de Bay.

“As a result, prevailing retail prices of the most in-demand fishery commodities remained stable in most public markets in the NCR plus,” Dar said.

Specifically, in 10 retail markets and one wholesale market in the NCR, prices of fresh galunggong ranged from P180 to P240 per kilogram, while prices of tilapia and bangus were sustained at P120 to P130 per kilo, and P180 per kilo, respectively.

These were an improvement compared to prices during the latter part of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, when prices of galunggong fetched as high as P300 per kilo, bangus at P220 per kilo and tilapia at P160 per kilo.

“In the months ahead, we will continue to make fishery products and food, in general, accessible and affordable to all consumers, particularly in the 'NCR plus' and in other urban communities, where the threat of hunger looms,” Dar said.

“In all our efforts, we will also ensure that small fishers get reasonable prices for their produce and fish catch, and thus  respectable earnings for their families,” he added.

The Agriculture chief said the government considers fisherfolk as among the new heroes as they help keep our food supply lines replenished.

“Given their critical contribution, the DA will continue to provide them with needed fishing boats and equipment, technical assistance, credit and marketing support. We hope our initiatives will empower and sustain their livelihood, enabling them to earn more income, and subsequently rise above poverty and hunger,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News