Escudero Calls Ph Government to Prioritize Local Fishing Industry
Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero is urging the national government to prioritize the local fishing industry over importation.
On Saturday (January 22, 2022), Escudero is asking the Philippine government to prioritize the development and growth of the local fishing industry. The politician said that it will make the country’s supply sufficient.
The governor explained that the program will make it more competitive over importation. It would also resolve the possible supply shortage after Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reported that the Philippines has a deficit of 119,000 metric tons of small pelagic fishes.
“Bago sana bahain ng imported na isda ang merkado, sana buhusan muna ng gobyerno nang sapat na suporta ang mga Pilipinong mangingisda upang hindi sila tuluyang malunod sa kahirapan,” Escudero said
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that the data showing the shortage has been recorded in the first quarter of 2022.
The politician also finds the announcement of Agriculture Department worrying because it may also suffer the fate of vegetable growers. The planters witnessed how their profits dropped due to smuggled imported farm products.
Farmers said that smuggled imported farm products are already circulating in the local market. Escudero called the government to reconsider its plan to import fish, which will severely affect the local fishers.
The Sorsogon government official thinks that the administration should relax the Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3 asking three months closure of fishing season.
According to Escudero, the government can boost to help the local fishermen with better equipment such as new technological skills, modern post-harvest facilities, gears and boats.
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