DVMF urged to step up against cheating fish vendors

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Council is urging the personnel of the city’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries to intensify the campaign against fish vendors who insert smaller fish into their fish products so these appear to have more weight.

“The stomachs of some big to medium-sized fish sold in the market are actually filled with smaller fish so that the latter would look robust, and would weigh more,” Labella said in his resolution that was approved in mass motion by the city council.

According to Labella this illegal activity should be stopped immediately because it will affect so many consumers who pay more, but they only receive less in weight.

City veterinarian Alice Utlang has confirmed that some of the fish vendors are doing this and she has instructed her personnel to be vigilant about it.

Some fish vendors in Pasil fish market were also caught by the personnel of Utlang while in the act of selling fish products soaked with dye to make them look fresh.

“Binuang g’yod tinuod nang buhat sa ubang mga mamaligyaay og isda. Maayo ra usab kon pangdakpon na sila,” one of the fish vendors in Pasil fish market said.

Labella said these activities are violations of the provisions of the Market Code as well as Republic Act 7394 or the Consumers Act of the Philippines.

He said the Local Government Code empowers the city government to ensure that the preparation and sale of meat, among others, for public consumption is fair and lawful, and does not compromise public health. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)