PROVINCIAL Agriculturist Japhet Masculino on Friday, August 17, stressed the importance of developing inland fishery resources in Negros Occidental to allay adverse effects of possible fish supply shortage in the province.
Masculino said, though “there is currently no huge deficiency in the supply of fish products in the province,” thus, consumers here have nothing to worry as the reported shortage in Metro Manila won’t hurt Negros Occidental.
In a report, fish vendors claimed that bad weather condition, particularly the recent onslaught of Habagat, has resulted in the reduction of supply and increase in prices of fish including “galunggong” or round scad.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is importing 17,000 metric tons of “galunggong” as a measure to “neutralize” prices of fish in the market and ensure efficient supply.
On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol signed a Certificate of Necessity allowing accredited traders to import fish.
The move is in accordance with Section 61 of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code, as amended by Republic Act 10654, and Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195, series of 1999.
“Whenever there are natural disasters like typhoons, the supply will surely reduce and prices will spike. This is where our inland fish products like milkfish (bangus) come in,” Masculino said.
He added: “thus, there is a need to develop our inland fishery resources including ponds to ensure supply if ever fish catch of our fishermen is affected by various disturbances.”
Agreeing to the statement of Masculino, fisherman Richard Aquino of Tortosa Pump Boat Association based in Manapla town said Negros Occidental has no “major problem” in terms of fish product supply as it is augmented by numerous fishponds.
So there is nothing to worry about, he said.
Aquino, a recipient of the DA’s 2017 Outstanding Fisherfolk, said the province has enough production of “bangus” thus, it is even supplying to markets in Luzon.
“If the government wants to source out fish products from other provinces like Negros Occidental in order to address the deficiency in Metro Manila, I think we have the capacity to provide.”
He, however, stressed that “galunggong” is not a major commodity of the province. Instead, it has a huge volume of “bangus,” “tilapia,” and “bulao.”