The recent typhoons and the closed fishing season in Palawan by November would lead to a shortage of fish in the second half of the year.
Data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) showed a shortfall of 3,000 metric tons (MT) in fish is expected in the third quarter when supply is seen at 822,000 MT against demand of 825,000 MT.
A bigger shortfall of 58,000 MT is seen by the fourth quarter when supply hits 769,000 MT against demand of 827,000 MT.
BFAR said this was the basis of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in issuing a memorandum circular (MC) on the guidelines on the certificate of necessity to import 35,000 MT of round scad, big eye scad, mackerel, bonito and moonfish for wet markets from October to December.
The imports will support local fish supply during the annual closed fishing season in northern Palawan from November 1 to January 31.
Based on DA’s latest monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region as of Wednesday, prevailing retail price of local galunggong ranges from P220 to 280 per kg while imported galunggong is at P200 per kg.
