By Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
THE fishing industry said the government needs to supply better data that justifies the need for fish imports, after questioning the current rationale for buying fish overseas.
“We are not against imports, but it should be backed up by clear and credible data. We are having a hard time determining how accurate the data are,” Chairman of the Philippine Association of Fish Producers, Inc. David B. Villaluz said during a virtual forum on food security.
“We think the cycle pattern of small-scale fisheries is not being… taken into consideration in the data. It just caters to the commercial fisheries sector. What are the indicators considered as the basis to trigger the decision to import, as well as the volume of fish to be imported? Data should be clear to everyone,” Mr. Villaluz added.
On Jan. 17, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it issued certificates of necessity covering imports of 60,000 metric tons (MT) of small frozen pelagic fish, citing the need to contain inflation, losses to the fishing industry due to the typhoon, and the closed fishing season which is restricting supply in parts of the country.
The DA cited a report from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), using data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which estimated a potential deficit of 119,000 MT of fish for this quarter.
“Last quarter’s imports are still here in our markets, and it’s not being sold. We don’t know if this data by PSA supporting imports is correct. There are no specific guidelines on how PSA data are being gathered. It is too vague,” Mr. Villaluz said.
The National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) has said that 60,000 MT of fish imported from last quarter has not yet been completely disposed of.
As of Jan. 13, 12,023 MT of fish was in transit and 22,613 MT in cold storage, according to the NFARMC.
Feedmix Specialist II, Inc. Vice-President Norberto O. Chingcuanco said that the data being used to trigger import decisions are often forecasts and do not reflect the real situation in the markets.
“It predicted last year that there will be a deficit 120,000 MT of fish. In reality, only 10% of that was needed. It again applied the same formula this year, not taking into account what happened last year. We never run out of fish. They’re always there,” Mr. Chingcuanco said.
“The data are usually presented as PSA data, but it is not so. It’s actually forecast or a prediction. They do use data from the PSA but the rest is what the BFAR came up with as a forecast,” he added.
The industry representatives urged the government to incorporate more direct ways of measuring supply and demand.
“Taal Lake produces 60,000 MT (of fish) by itself. For those who compile and gather data, please go to these places and see for yourself what’s happening on the ground. Talk to the people in the field. See the fishermen. Don’t rely on hypothetical data and forecasts,” Mario G. Balazon, Board Secretary of Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance, Inc. said.
“We have cages overflowing with fish in Pampanga. We cannot sell our fish. We view imports as anti-farmer and anti-fisherman. Policymakers should go ground and look at the situation,” President of the Philippine Tilapia Association Jon G. Juico said.
“In my 17 years of fish rearing, there was never a time that there was a shortage of fish. We always have enough, or more than enough to supply everyone. That’s why we don’t understand why there is a need to import,” Mr. Juico said.
“Perhaps the data are inadequate and need to be adjusted. They always talk of a shortage, but you never find the market without fish. There is always galunggong (round scad), bangus (milkfish) and tilapia,” Vice-President of the Alliance of the Philippine Fishing Federation, Inc. Peter Paul D. Santos added.
“When there are natural disasters and closed seasons, imports shouldn’t be our first recourse when anticipating deficiency in fish supply. There should be research. There should be a study on how to mitigate those disasters without resorting to imports,” Dennis F. Calvan, Pangingisda Natin Gawing Tama Network Representative said.
“Our fishermen, especially our municipal fishermen, are the ones who are most affected by this. We need to protect them, as they are the most marginalized,” he added.
