DA OKs importation of over 8K MT of frozen fish

The Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that the plan to import over 8,000 metric tons (MT) of frozen small pelagic fish has been approved, as it looks to address the potential impact of recent storms on local fish supply.

In a statement, the DA said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. approved the additional importation of 8,280 MT of frozen fish, such as round scad and mackerel.

The volume is on top of the 30,000-MT of frozen fish the agency has earlier approved for importation for the last quarter of 2024.

Tiu Laurel said the over 8,000-MT augmentation was a needed adjustment to the earlier approved importation volume “to address the effects of Typhoons Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito on the fish supply for the fourth quarter of 2024.”

The DA said the decision to allow additional imports was decided on after a meeting of the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council.

Meanwhile, the initial 30,000-MT fish import volume is intended to supplement supply in wet markets during the closed-fishing season in major fish spawning areas in the country.

The closed-fishing season starts in November and extends through mid-March.

The DA said the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for the additional fish import volume will be issued until December 16, and fish imported during these SPSICs must arrive in the country January 30 next year.

The Agriculture Department said that 280 MT of the additional approved fish import volume shall be allocated for the KADIWA ng Pangulo centers.

The frozen fish intended for the KADIWA ng Pangulo centers were meant to provide those who belong to the vulnerable sectors such as indigents, persons with disabilities  and senior citizens with an affordable source of protein, according to the DA.

The DA said food sold in KADIWA centers is typically priced 20% lower than in public markets, helping ensure that essential goods remain accessible to those in need. —Ted Cordero/RF, GMA Integrated News