Local galunggong scarce in Metro Manila markets due to closed fishing season

Local galunggong was unavailable at the Commonwealth Market and Mega Q Mart in Quezon City on Friday, based on the monitoring conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

This was also the situation at the Quinta Market, Pasay Market, and Guadalupe Market, according to a report by Bernadette Reyes on 24 Oras.

Alicia Balle, a fish seller at the Commonwealth Market, said she only sells imported galunggong.

“Maraming beses na walang sariwa, puro lang frozen,” she said.

(Most times we don't have fresh galunggong. It's all frozen.)

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the fishing season was closed, and it was forbidden to catch galunggong around Palawan — the largest source of the fish in the country.

“Talagang limitado pa ang supply. Nagpapatupad na rin tayo ng closed fishing season at matatapos ito sa January 31 pa. Medyo masama yung panahon sa mga lalawigan kaya't limitado rin yung fishing place ng ating mga mangingisda,” said Nazzer Briguera, Chief Information Officer, BFAR.

(Supplies are quite limited. We are enforcing the closed fishing season and this will only end on January 31. And the weather is bad in the provinces and limits the places where our fishermen can work.)

To address the country's limited supply, fish was being imported.

Of the 25,000 metric tons approved for importation, 12,000 metric tons have arrived in the country.

Currently, a kilo of local galunggong costs P220 to P280, while imported ones cost P220 to P260.

Aside from the limited supply of fresh galunggong, Tugon Kabuhayan noted that the fish being caught were small, with some measuring only two thumbs in length.

"September, October, November, hanggang January, kasi 'yan yung spawning season eh ng galunggong, kaya may closed season. So mapapansin mo 'yung mga maliliit na galunggong, 'yan 'yung mga pinapanganak at 'yan yung inaalagaan natin na 'wag munang mahuli dahil maliliit pa lang sila. 'Yung option natin, marami namang isda kasi. Yung galunggong, hindi lang naman 'yan ang isda sa palengke,” said Tugon Kabuhayan Convenor Attorney Asis Perez.

(September, October, November, until January — that's the galunggong spawning season. That's why we have a closed season. So those small fish, these are young fish, and we are protecting them, keeping them from being caught because they are too small. Galunggong is not the only fish in the market though.)

Eggs

Meanwhile, egg prices have also increased further. The DA said the cheapest medium-sized eggs in Metro Manila markets cost P8.

According to the Philippine Egg Board, the average farmgate price of eggs on Friday is P7.10. It costs the highest in the Ilocos Region at P7.83.

“Hindi na kaya ng presyo yung syete [pesos], wala ka na tutubuin nu'n,” said Christina Manio, Egg Retailer.

(P7 is just not possible. You won't make any money at that price.)

“Dapat ang maging margin from the farmgate hanggang sa retail ideally siguro P1.50. Halimbawa 75 centavos yung tubo mula sa farm ng trader pagkatapos yung retailer naman another 75 centavos,” said Gregorio San Diego, chairman of the Philippine Egg Board.

(Ideally, the margin of profit from the farmgate to retail is maybe P1.50. For example, P0.75 is the profit at the trader's farm. Then the retailer adds another P0.75.) — Sherylin Untalan/DVM/KG, GMA Integrated News