The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is looking at the scales to lower prices of Blue Mackerel Scad or Shortfin Scad or galunggong, dubbed as the “poor man’s fish,” which have risen to as high as P240 per kilogram.
Data from the price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture show that current prices of galunggong – both local and imported – are at P240 per kilogram as of March 10, 2021.
The prices compare with the average price of P190.43 per kilogram for local and P200 per kilogram for the imported as of March 10, 2020.
Prices of galunggong for both periods were way above the P140 per kilogram suggested retail price for the imported variety set by the DA in November last year, amid increases in prices of agricultural goods.
“Galunggong prices are still high but we expect that within the month the prices would go down because open season is just starting in northern Palawan as well as Zamboanga,” an unidentified representative from BFAR and who did not identify himself – which observers found to be off track – said in a congressional hearing.
The representative also noted that the supplies from the open season would be complemented by imports, which were likely to bring down prices to the range of P160-P180 per kilogram.
The BFAR is mandated to take responsibility for the development, improvement, management, and conservation of the country’s fishery and aquatic resources.