Fish prices up ahead of Holy Week 2024

Fish products saw price increases as demand rose ahead of Holy Week.

Catholics abstain from eating meat as a form of penance on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. 

The latest data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed bangus prices rose from P140 to P250 per kilo on March 18 to P150 to P220 per kilo on March 21. Likewise, the price of local galunggong increased from P180 to P280 per kilo on March 18 to P180 to P300 per kilo on March 21. 

“Lalo na yung mga Thursday, Friday hanggang Sabado. Mga 10% to 20% normally itinataas,” said DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa in Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report on Friday. 

(Prices are expected to increase by 10% to 20% from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday.)

However, de Mesa said there was no need to impose a price ceiling. 

“The DA is not considering any price ceiling for any commodities, kahit sa pork,” he said. 

(The DA is not considering any price ceiling for any commodities, even pork.)

Meanwhile, a fish retailer in Malabon City said middlemen set fish prices.

“Hindi kami nagtataas. Ang nagtataas, ‘yung nagbababa sa Malabon. Hindi kami kasi sumusunod lang kami,” Marivic dela Cruz said. 

(We don’t increase prices. Those who deliver the supply here in Malabon set the prices, and we’re just following them.) — Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News