A CAN of sardines (Pexels)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry is evaluating a proposal submitted by the canning industry to raise the price of sardines to P31 for a 155-gram can, a figure double the current price of P15.
The group is also pushing for direct fuel importation from Malaysia as one of the ways to stabilize the supply of canned sardines in the country.
Grace Aduca, DTI-Zamboanga provincial director, confirmed a position paper submitted by the Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association proposing the price adjustment.
Aduca said her office has coordinated with the Department of Energy for the request.
Canning industry officials have appealed to the government for help in sustaining the operations of canning factories in Zamboanga after high fuel prices caused a disruption in their operations, direly affecting the supply of the commodity in the market.
A shutdown could also jeopardize the livelihood of some 30,000 workers employed by factories here.