Agriculture chief exempts bonito from import ban

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has allowed canners to import frozen bonito more than two weeks after he ordered a temporary import suspension of the fish, following reports that imported fish stocks are diverted to the wet markets.

In issuing Memorandum Order 18, Tiu Laurel allowed the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for the importation of bonito “for canning purposes.” An SPSIC is issued by the government to certify that an imported good is safe for humans, plants and animals. It is required to be secured before any imported goods enter the country.

Tiu Laurel earlier issued MO 14 to suspend the issuance of the SPSIC for the importation of frozen round scad (galunggong), mackerel (alumahan) and bonito (tulingan) after finding that at least 100,000 metric tons of imported galunggong were diverted to wet markets in the last nine months.

According to Tiu Laurel, the issuance of the memorandum order was necessary to curb and prevent the diversion of frozen imported fish stocks intended for canners, processors and institutional buyers.

He also ordered a crackdown on importers involved in the diversion of imported fish stocks to the wet market.

Danilo Fausto, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food president, said the issuance of MO 18 would ensure that local canneries have sufficient raw material supply and prevent price spikes.

He noted that most of the imported fish products are not locally available or insufficient to meet canners’ requirement.

Fausto said local canners are experiencing “pressure” from government agencies in minimizing their price hikes since prices of canned items like sardines are regulated by the government.

“Also, local prices for similar species are often higher than imported ones. Consequently, it has squeezed canneries’ profit margins leading to the sale or closure of some canneries,” he added.

Based on the Department of Agriculture monitoring, the retail price of local galunggong ranged between P150 and P250 per kilo; Indian mackerel, between P200 and P360 per kilo; bonito, between P140 and P200 per kilo; sardines or tamban between P100 and P200 per kilo; tilapia, between P100 and P160; bangus or milkfish, between P130 and P240 per kilo; and salmon head, between P140 and P260 per kilo. – Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas