House probe on galunggong importation sought

MANILA, Philippines — Militant lawmakers yesterday sought an investigation by the House of Representatives on the move of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to allow the importation of fish reportedly due to a shortage of supply in the country.

Members of the Makabayan bloc filed House Resolution 2467, which seeks an investigation in aid of legislation by the committee on agriculture on the DA’s administrative order allowing the importation of 60,000 metric tons (MT) of pelagic fish such as mackerel and galunggong (round scad).

The six-member bloc, led by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, specifically wanted to determine the impact of the policy, especially to the local fishing industry.

“It is important to know the impact of galunggong importation on Filipino fishers and the local fishing industry,” the resolution read.

The lawmakers echoed the opposition by fisherfolk groups to the policy that they believed would be harmful to the local fishing industry.

They cited, for instance, the objection raised by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, which called on the government to enforce measures that will help increase fish production in the country instead of importing galunggong.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) also said the importation of galunggong will only “drive down the farmgate prices of fish,” according to the lawmakers.

Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza and Magsasaka party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat had earlier slammed the DA’s order.

Atienza, who is running for vice president in the May 9 elections, alleged that the shortage in the supply of fish in the country is caused by supposed corruption that allowed “monopoly by big businessmen.”

“Our country is blessed with an abundance of rich resources from the sea. We never imported fish then. It was the other countries who imported Philippine fish. Clearly, the government is not doing its job and the problem of corruption is causing this shortage,” he said in a statement.

Cabatbat, for his part, does not buy the DA’s claim of a shortage in supply.

“We’re a nation surrounded by waters, and yet we need to import fish? Worse than that, we have a shortage? Something’s terribly wrong here,” he said in a separate statement.

Cabatbat expressed belief that there is enough supply of galunggong, mackerel and other small fish, contrary to the pronouncement of the government.

‘Insult to Phl’

By sourcing galunggong, mackerel and other pelagic fish species from China and Vietnam, the countries that rampantly poach in Philippine waters, “we are most likely importing ‘balikbayan’ (returnee) fish,” according to PAMALAKAYA.

“We are fully aware that the countries where we are going to import fish are the same countries that frequent our territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea. This is an insult to us as an archipelagic country, as we might be importing fish that came from our very own fishing grounds,” PAMALAKAYA vice chair for Luzon Bobby Roldan said in a statement sent to The STAR yesterday.

Roldan, a fisherman in Zambales, said galunggong is mostly caught off the waters of the West Philippine Sea and other major open seas in the Philippines such as Batangas, Mindoro and Palawan provinces.

PAMALAKAYA challenged the government to “enforce fishing laws against illegal poachers” in Philippine waters and prevent foreign fishing fleets from exploiting the country’s fishery and marine resources.

“Instead of Filipino fishermen benefitting from our water resources, foreign ships are rampant in our waters, like the West Philippine Sea, depleting our fish species. It’s a big insult that we are the ones buying fish from other countries, when these come from our own fishing areas,” Roldan said in Filipino.

The group maintained its opposition to importation as it would be “harmful” to the local fishing industry and small fisherfolks due to price competition. – Michelle Zoleta