Import clearance sa mga galunggong, bonito, at mackerel, suspendido na simula April 16

Transcript

00:00 Agriculture Secretary Francisco T. Laurel Jr. is expecting that the country's agricultural production will increase

00:06 with the approval of the four-year plan of the Agency for the Prosperity of the New Philippines.

00:12 Because of this, he sees that the rate of imports to the country will decrease,

00:16 as well as the half price of food in the markets.

00:19 At the moment, Secretary Laurel Jr. is calling for a fund of P93 to P94 billion for this.

00:28 This includes the digitalization of smart farming

00:31 and the deepening of the collection of data on fisheries and agriculture.

00:37 If the DA does these things, not only will it be stronger in terms of food supply,

00:43 but it will also reduce the price of fish.

00:46 And the income of farmers will also increase.

00:50 The Department of Agriculture will first stop the importation of some fish to the families

00:57 so that the local fishermen will not lose anything.

01:01 Here's the details of the report of Clayzel Cordelia.

01:03 Since April 16, the Department of Agriculture has suspended the issue of import clearance

01:13 for the importation of galunggong, bonito, and mackerel for rice, processor, and institutional buyer.

01:22 This is to prevent illegal fishing from entering the markets.

01:28 Mackerel is only an importation for the exportation of fish in a limited volume.

01:35 The Cansardines Association of the Philippines understands the intention

01:40 of stopping the illegal sale of imported fish in the market,

01:44 which is harmful to the local fishermen.

01:47 But the industry was shocked because they were not consulted.

01:52 The group is worried that the production of canned mackerel will be reduced

01:56 and the price will increase, especially now that the price of fish has increased.

02:01 Bonito and galunggong come from sea-free waters among local fishermen.

02:09 Mackerel is the one that can come on the floating content.

02:13 The price will increase but the supply will decrease.

02:17 That is the law of supply and demand.

02:20 There will only be cost factors that influence the final respective prices.

02:30 What happens is the increase in the price of fish is what influences the prices of the canning to go up.

02:42 But the Agriculture Department said that the manufacturers should not be concerned.

02:48 The problem here is diversion.

02:50 If they import it and divert it, they will be shocked.

02:55 But if their bot sales says that this is how they sell mackerel and there is an equivalent tonnage,

03:04 they can still import.

03:06 They should be able to import 10% more of what they are using now.

03:16 I don't see any reason why they should be afraid of the shortage.

03:22 The Trade and Industry Department assured that the supply of canned fish is sufficient,

03:28 like canned mackerel in the country.

03:31 But the agency will work with the manufacturers and the Local Price Coordinating Council

03:38 to discuss the different talks on the supply and price of products.

03:43 We don't hear that there is a risk of supply issues related to sardines and mackerel.

03:50 We will be monitoring it very closely.

03:52 Kalay Zalpardiliya for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.