Fish unloading volume in eight regional fish ports was cut by half due to intense persistent downpour caused by Typhoon Fabian and the southwest monsoon rains according to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA).
The situation is expected to affect the stability of fish prices in markets served by these areas.
The PFDA said from the July 19 to 25 unloading period, 6,056.45 metric tons (MT) of fish were recorded compared with the previous week’s 12,315.63 MT.
The biggest drops were recorded in General Santos as it dipped by 61.15 percent to 2,284.85 MT from 5,880.95 MT; Zamboanga with a 54.81 percent decline to 116.38 MT from 257.55 MT; and Davao with 49.97 percent decrease to 62.92 MT from 125.78 MT.
Unloading in Navotas went down by 45.37 percent 1,871.94 MT from 3,426.67 MT as Bulan dropped by 41.83 percent to 899.94 MT from 1,546.92 MT as Lucena weakened by 38.77 percent to 292.17 MT from 477.13 MT and Iloilo booking 18.69 percent lower to 449.23 MT from 552.48 MT.
About 70 percent of Metro Manila fish supply passes through the Navotas port.
Sual was the only fish port that registered an increase, unloading volume up by 64.31 percent to 79.13 MT from 48.16 MT.
For the period, skipjack tuna was the most available fish with a supply of 34.3 MT followed by galunggong at 29.4 MT and yellowfin tuna at 12.075 MT.
Based on the Department of Agriculture’s monitoring of 11 markets in Metro Manila, prevailing price of milkfish were at P160 per kilogram (kg), tilapia at P130 per kg, galunggong at P240 per kg. and alumahan at P300 per kg as of yesterday (July 29).
These were higher compared to prices recorded on July 19 when prevailing price of milkfish were at P150 per kg, tilapia at P120 per kg, galunggong at P200 per kg and alumahan at P240 per kg. – Jed Macapagal
