Senators Air Dismay to DA for Approving Importation of Galunggong
Senators air their disappointment towards the Department of Agriculture (DA) for approving the importation of galunggong.
The DA’s authorisation to import 60,000 metric tons of fish for the first quarter of 2022 was blasted by five legislators. Senator Panfilo Lacson, a presidential candidate, warned the measure will “kill” the local fisherfolk.
“Import pa more! After killing our farmers by importing vegetables and fruits, it is the turn of our fishermen to die,” he wrote in Twitter post.
Lacson brought up the subject of corruption in the country’s imports of goods, notably pig, poultry, and seafood. He was also critical of the Philippines’ imports of galunggong from China.
“Because of the incursions of Chinese vessels, we are denied 300,000 metric tons of fish… If you divide 30 million kilos of fish by 40 kilos, that would translate to 7.5 million Filipino families who have to buy fish from sources other than the Philippines. That’s unacceptable,” he noted.
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Senator Manny Pacquiao, another presidential candidate, expressed disappointment with the Agriculture Department’s latest decision. Both Pacquiao and Lacson emphasized the abundance of natural riches in Philippine seas.
The government’s incapacity to effectively manage and optimize the country’s rich aquatic resource, according to Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s admission, is a symptom of the government’s inability to properly manage and optimize the country’s rich aquatic resource, Pacquiao added. Pacquiao questioned the importation, claiming that the country is already encircled by vast bodies of water.
“This is unbelievable. Saan ka naman nakakita ng bansang napapaligiran ng mga dagat pero nag-iimport ng mga produktong galing sa dagat? Sobrang kawawa na nga ang ating mga magsasaka dahil sa pagpasok ng napakaraming imported at smuggled na mga bigas at gulay tapos ngayon naman ang mga mangingisda naman natin ang gustong parusahan,” Pacquiao said.
The legislator went on to say that the Philippines has the world’s fifth-longest coastline, making it perfect for fishing and aquaculture. The presidential candidate emphasized that the country should be the exporter.
Senator Imee Marcos, on the other hand, has called for a halt to imports, warning of the negative consequences for the local fish business. According to her, at least 35,000 metric tons from the 2021 importation, as well as those remaining to be delivered for 2022, remain unsold.
Senator Francis Pangilinan also stated that the decision to import fish is a sign that the agri-fisheries industry has been ignored. Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta of the House of Representatives also criticized the DA’s lack of preparation and years of neglect, which he claimed described the fishermen’s condition.
Marcoleta believes that blaming the imports on Typhoon Odette reveals the department’s institutional inadequacy in restoring the fishing business. He also stressed the need of the DA having a “constant support system” because the country is hit by roughly 20 typhoons each year.
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