Retail fish prices rise by P160 per kilo after 'Kristine'

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:35 p.m.) — In the wake of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), Metro Manila markets are seeing a surge in retail fish prices by as much as P160 per kilogram.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recorded an increase in fish prices since the onset of Kristine in the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on October 21. As of Monday, October 28, prices have risen for the following fish:

• Tilapia
• Galunggong (local and imported round scad)
• Alumahan (Indian mackerel)
• Sardines
• Squid
• Tambakol (yellow-fin tuna)

Sardine prices have experienced the largest price jump, doubling to P320 per kilogram on Monday, October 28, from P160 on October 21. By Tuesday, the price per kilogram had dropped to P250, though it remains P90 higher than pre-Kristine levels.

Following sardines, squid is now sold in National Capital Region markets for as high as P480 per kilogram, an increase of P30 since October 21. Squid prices briefly reached P500 per kilogram at most in the two days leading up to October 29.

Local galunggong has also seen one of the sharpest increases, with some markets selling the fish for up to P360 per kilogram on October 28. This reflects a P40 rise since Sunday and a P60 increase since Kristine entered PAR.

The prices of local galunggong, however, had eased to P320 per kilogram, but still P20 above the P300 per kilogram price prior to Kristine.

After reaching P360 as Kristine made landfall, local galunggong prices dipped to a maximum of P320 on October 26 before rising again to P360 on Monday.

While imported galunggong decreased to P260 on October 26 from P300 per kilogram on October 21, it rebounded to P280 on Monday, signaling an increase in prices.

Alumahan also experienced price fluctuations, rising to P420 per kilogram on October 26 — a P70 increase from October 21 — but then decreased to P400 per kilogram on Tuesday.

The cost of tambakol decreased to P300 per kilogram on Monday; however, this still represents a P20 increase compared to prices before Kristine's onslaught.

Meanwhile, prices of tilapia fluctuated between October 21 and October 28, reaching a peak of P160 to P180 per kilogram. 

On October 26, the maximum price for tilapia was P170 per kilogram, but by Monday, it had increased by P10, climbing to P180.

Farmgate prices still low

Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) has called the price hikes in some fish “baseless,” citing how farmgate prices are much lower for small fisherfolk.

Farmgate prices refer to the prices of agricultural products purchased directly from farmers or fisherfolk.

“Walang batayan ang pagtataas ng retail price ng ilang isda matapos humagupit ang Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, dahil nananatiling mababa ang farmgate price ng mga ito sa maliliit na mangingisda,” PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo told Philstar.com in a message. 

(The increase in retail prices of some fish following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine is baseless, as farmgate prices remain low for small fisherfolk.)

Arambulo used galunggong as an example, noting that its farmgate prices are approximately P80 to P100 per kilogram. Meanwhile, current retail prices in NCR markets range from P200 to P320, more than double the cost paid to fisherfolk.

The fisherfolk group attributed this to private traders, whom he says are capitalizing on the recent disaster to impose price increases in fish markets. 

Arambulo said that the government, particularly the DA, should intervene to ensure fish prices are fair and affordable for consumers.

The DA has reported P3.40 billion in agricultural losses, which includes P11.20 million in damages to local fish such as tilapia.