‘Galunggong,’ other fish now cheaper

Filipinos can now buy round scad (galunggong) and other fish cultivated locally with the resumption of fishing activities in major fishing grounds nationwide.

At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing on Monday, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the prices of galunggong and other pelagic fish in public markets were projected to decline by up to 30 percent between February and March as the government declared open the fishing season in the waters of Northern Palawan on Feb. 1.

Every year, fishing in major grounds is banned for three months to conserve various marine species and address overfishing and climate change concerns.

This takes effect in the Visayan Sea and Zamboanga Peninsula from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15 and in northeast Palawan between Nov. 1 and Jan. 1.

READ: Galunggong price drop expected by this month – BFAR

As of Monday, local round scad is priced from P200 to P320 per kilogram in Metro Manila markets compared to P220 to P260 per kg a year ago. Imported round scad is sold from P180 to P260 per kg compared to last year’s P220 to P260 per kg. —JORDEENE B. LAGARE