Press Release
January 29, 2022

Pangilinan to DA: Makinig sa hiling ng mga mangingisda, itigil ang pag-import ng galunggong

ZAMBALES -- Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan tells the Department of Agriculture (DA) to listen to the clamor of local fisherfolk to halt the importation of small pelagic fishes like galunggong as the country has enough supply of these fishes.

The former food security secretary reiterated this position after the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc. (APFFI) released a resolution opposing the issuance of Certificate of Necessity to Import (CNI) to import 60,000 metric tons (MT) of fish by the DA.

"Galing na mismo sa asosasyon ng mga mangingisda na mayroon tayong sapat na supply ng galunggong. Pakinggan natin ang hiling nila na sa halip na mag-angkat ng galunggong, suportahan na lang ang mga mangingisda dahil may sapat namang supply dito," Pangilinan said.

"Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin mawari kung bakit nakikipagmatigasan ang mga kaibigan natin sa DA na kailangan nating mag-angkat ng galunggong. Nakakalungkot na mas pinipili pa nating suportahan ang mga dayuhang mangingisda kaysa sa sariling atin," he added.

In its resolution, the APFFI said that there are 1,856 registered commercial fishing boats for small pelagic fishes which contribute to the employment of around 120,000 people. Another 250,000 people are indirectly employed as these individuals work in processing plants, canneries, and supply chains to get the fish from sea to each Filipino households.

If the DA continues with its plan to import fishes, almost one million Filipinos who rely on fishing will be massively affected, leaving them hungry along with their families, APFFI said.

"The importation should not be permitted considering that there are still available fish in the first quarter as the utilization of the volume from the previously issued CNI, the volume of 12,023 MT, is still in transit. In fact, the volume of 22,613 MT is still in cold storages," The APFFI said.

Pangilinan backs APFFI's resolution, saying if there is any group who knows better regarding the issue, it would be those who are in the fishing industry.

"Mas naniniwala ako sa sinasabi ng APFFI dahil may datos sila na galing talaga sa tao mismo at hindi sila kumukuha kung saan-saan lang. Matuto tayong makinig sa kanila dahil sila ang mas nakakaalam," Pangilinan said.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar earlier said in a press briefing that the agency will stand by its decision to import 60,000 MT of fish, citing demand shortage for the first quarter of the year.

"Itong CNI ay may basehan tayo bakit naging 60,000 MT... and this is from the projected deficit of 119,000 MT of fish. Many fishing communities have been hit [by Typhoon Odette]. They lost their [fishing] boats, fishing gears and the like. The capacity of our fishers to catch will be in question," Dar said.

But if this is the case, Pangilinan said importation is not the way out. Instead the DA should put in place measures that will aid fishermen "badly hit" by Typhoon Odette to recover and be back on their feet.

"Mayroong allocated P10 billion funds para sa rehabilitasyon. Of this amount, P2.6 billion ang ibinigay sa agriculture sector upang makabangon sila. Perhaps the DA can also provide low interest loans to our fisherfolk who were greatly affected by the disaster," Pangilinan earlier said.

"Through this loan, makakapag-umpisa silang muli ng hanapbuhay. Kulang lang sila sa pera ngayon dahil nga binagyo pero sigurado ako na kung tutulungan sila, makakabangon at makakabangon sila sa lalong madaling panahon," he added.

News Latest News Feed