Senator Imee Marcos, chairwoman of the Senate Economic Affairs committee, is angry at a plan of the Department of Agriculture to import 60,000 metric tons of fish.
‘’Galit ako dyan, import to death, halos natabunan pa tayo ng last years import, ano ba?! (I hate that...import to death, the Philippines was overwhelmed by last year’s (fish) import. What’s happening?),’’ Marcos said in her Viber account.
Marcos issued the statement after the Department of Agriculture (DA) decided to import some 60,000 metric tons of fishes such as galunggong and mackerel.
‘’Taken in the context of our having to import basic food items such as rice, pork and now fish, it is quite unfortunate that for a country that has one of the longest coastlines in the world, we remain seafood insecure,’’ opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ N. Pangilinan said.
‘’An indicator that our agriculture- fisheries sector has been neglected. Importation is a stop gap short, term solution to address the supply and price of fish but it compromises and undermines food security in the long run,’’ he added in his Yahoo mail.
After discussion and deliberation, the multi-sectoral National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) recommended to DA Secretary William Dar ‘’that there is no need to issue a Certificate of Necessity to Import (CNI) for the first quarter of 2022.’’
NFARMC also asked that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ‘’to present an augmented mechanism in the presentation of fish supply and demand analysis, taking into account the PSA reference and the data from the industry; and for the information to be made available in advance in cognizance of the availability of fish supply from other countries.’’
‘’Stop that importation! Theres at least 35,000 metric tons still unsold from 2021 importation plus those still to be delivered for Q1 (first quarter of) 2022!,’’ Marcos said.
‘’Papatayin nyo ang local fisheries (You will kill local fisheries),’’ she added.
After making a plea to the DA, Marcos said she would file a resolution against the importation that would request the Senate Agriculture committee chaired by Senator Cynthia A. Villar to undertake a public hearing on the issue.