Lawmaker slams DA over fish imports
A LAWMAKER said he finds it ironic that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to import 60,000 metric tons (MT) of marine fish including mackerel and galunggong.
“We’re a nation surrounded by waters, and yet we need to import fish? Worse than that, we have a shortage? Something’s terribly wrong here,” Magsasaka party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat said.
The DA issued Administrative Order 01 of 2022 allowing importers to supply fish in the country, a measure to cushion the blow of a projected shortage of 119,000 metric tons of the product in the first quarter of the year.
Cabatbat said DA sees income for the government of P30 million from the move, as qualified importers will be required to buy 1MT at P500.
He said importers are also compelled to sell fish at P90 per kilo in designated areas, where DA can keep tabs at prices.
According to the agency, Cabatbat said fish supply is yet to normalize due to typhoon Odette’s onslaught in December last year, and there’s a need to keep price spikes at bay.
Earlier, the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council said there’s no need to import yet since there’s no shortage.
“What we have is an oversupply of importers. There are just too many local officials insisting we let these foreign players in to provide Filipino consumers fish, rice, vegetables, and other agricultural products. This is killing local industries!” Cabatbat said.
The farmers’ representative insists Filipino fishermen need all the help they can get now more than ever. Damage to fisheries is at P3 billion from typhoon Odette alone.
“Fishermen in the Philippines are already reeling from unfair prices before this devastating typhoon hit. Now, it looks like the government is prioritizing importers over them? What Filipino fishers urgently need are timely and sensitive response to their plight, financial aid so they can rebuild, and a chance to recoup losses by giving them this opportunity to supply markets. Lift the fish bans. Importation is not a solution. Better management of resources is,” Cabatbat added.
