The Philippines will import additional 8,280 metric tons (MT) of frozen small pelagic fish to address supply concerns brought about by the effects of the recent typhoons.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said in a statement on Tuesday this was arrived at by the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council in a meeting recently.
The Council earlier issued a certificate of necessity to import 30,000 MT of frozen small pelagic species, such as round scad and mackerel.
The DA said the additional volume will address the effects of Typhoons Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito on the fish supply for the fourth quarter of 2024.
The 30,000 MT fish import volume allowed initially was intended to supplement supply in wet markets during the closed-fishing season in major fish spawning areas in the country and is expected to arrive next month.
The closed-fishing season starts in November and extends through mid-March.
The sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPIC) for the additional 8,280 MT fish import volume will be issued until December 16.
Fish imported using these SPSICs must arrive in the country by January 30.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel assured the additional 8,000 MT allocation will not affect the previously allocated maximum importable volume while the 280 MT shall be allocated for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo rolling stores.
The frozen fish intended for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers are meant to provide those who belong to the vulnerable sectors, such as indigents, persons with disabilities and senior citizens, with affordable source of protein, the DA said.
Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, per kilogram prices of monitored fish products as of last Saturday stood at P180 to P240 for milkfish, P135 to P170 for tilapia, P240 for imported galunggong, P260 to P380 for alumahan, P150 to P260 for salmon head, P100 to P260 for tamban and P140 to P320 for tambakol. Average price per kg of bonito for the period was not available.
