The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday assured the public that the plan to import 60,000 metric tons of small pelagic fishes will not affect local production.
"Hindi naman po, kasi talagang cinompute po namin 'yan na 'yan lang," BFAR director Ret. Commodore Eduardo Gongona told DZRH.
(It will not because we really computed this to amount just that.)
"Nasa mga importers naman po 'yun kung talagang mag-aaply sila for that importation kasi sila naman 'yung nakakaalam kung meron pang supply, sumusobra, kasi you cannot store that for a long time kasi perishable yan," he added.
(It will also depend on importers if they will apply for the importation because they are the ones who know if there are still supplies if it is exceeding because you cannot store that for a long time because it is perishable.)
He made the remarks after Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced that he approved the importation of 60,000 metric tons of small pelagic fishes in the first quarter of the year.
This includes the importation of round scad or galunggong, and others that are classified as small pelagic fish.
Gongona explained that they made the recommendation after they forecast a deficiency in supply, brought about by the devastation of Typhoon Odette, off-season fishing, and more
"Dahil nga sa weather, sa ngayon, malamig, umuulan palagi, bumabagyo, kulang po ang lumalabas na mangingisda," Gongona said.
(Because of the weather now, the cold, the rain, the typhoon, there is a lack of fishermen who are going out.)
"So baka magkulang 'yung ating supply, so para naman makasiguro lang na merong suplay we have to import and we have recommended 66,000 metric tons," he said.
(So there may be a shortage of supply, so to ensure that there is supply, we have to import and we have recommended 66,000 metric tons.)
However, the approved number by the agriculture secretary was only 60,000 metric tons, according to the BFAR director.
Gongona also said that the goal of importing fish would be to avoid supply shortages and for prices to skyrocket.
"Pero pag may steady supply tayo, hindi na siya tataas, pwede pa siyang bumaba. Kaya kailangan talaga natin ng supply muna," he pointed out.
(So once we have a steady supply, it will no longer go up. It may even go down. That’s why we really need supply first.)
