The Department of Agriculture is intensifying market monitoring and supply coordination to stabilize fish prices and ensure adequate inventory as global disruptions pressure key commodities like galunggong (round scad).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA has been in constant talks with qualified importers to assess supply conditions and fast-track shipments, particularly for imported fish varieties that can temper prices.
Tiu Laurel said galunggong prices remain elevated due to a severe global supply shortage, with limited volumes available from traditional sources. Recent weather disturbances, including storms affecting local waters and China — a main supplier — have further constrained supply, he said.
“Galunggong will remain high because there is really no supply worldwide. It’s a supply-and-demand issue,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that prices could peak at around P300 per kilo.
To cushion the impact on consumers, the DA is banking on incoming mackerel imports and locally produced alternatives. Tiu Laurel said mackerel prices are expected to ease once importation gains momentum, with prices projected to decline to between P230 and P250 per kilo.
Out of the approved 55,000-metric-ton allocation for mackerel imports, only about 30 percent has arrived because of supply-side disruptions. Tiu Laurel said shipments are starting to arrive as conditions normalize.
“We expect mackerel prices to go down once these shipments arrive,” he said.
He urged consumers to consider other protein sources, including locally farmed fish like tilapia and chicken, to manage household costs while supply remains tight.
The DA continues to monitor prices and inventory levels, coordinating with importers and industry players to maintain supply and prevent excessive price volatility.
