THE Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) said fish landed at regional fish ports totaled 50,608 metric tons (MT) in March, up 15.62% from a year earlier.
In a statement, the PFDA said the volume unloaded for March was the highest recorded in the first quarter.
The PFDA said the Navotas Fish Port Complex posted 24,461 MT of fish landed, up 36.58% from a year earlier.
The General Santos Fish Port Complex landed 16,966 MT in March.
The PFDA said the Bulan Fish Port Complex in Sorsogon posted the largest year-on-year increase, with volume almost doubling to 3,452 MT.
Fish unloaded at the Iloilo Fish Port Complex rose 15.25% in March to 2,818 MT.
The volume of fish landed at the Lucena Fish Port Complex in Quezon grew 12.35% to 1,943 MT, while fish landed at the Zamboanga Fish Port Complex rose 72.84% to 727 MT.
The Davao Fish Port Complex reported landed volume of 237 MT.
The Department of Agriculture has said it is studying a proposal to grant a P10 subsidy per kilo of catch landed at government fish ports to assist municipal fisherfolk and commercial operators deal with rising fuel costs.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. told a Senate hearing that the proposal will require consultation with the government’s economic managers to determine how to fund the scheme.
“If it can be funded, commercial fishers, and even municipal fishers with larger boats, will receive P10 for every kilo they unload at government fish ports. But that needs to be funded,” he said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel
