DA assures stable fish supply despite import ban

The Department of Agriculture assured that the recent importation ban of alumahan, galunggong, and tulingan will not affect the local fish supply and the canned fish industry.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said that the suspension of imports was timely to the open fishing season, which means that there is ample supply to the market.

The DA recently reported the issuance of Memorandum Order 14, which states that sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances of the three pelagic species are indefinitely banned to avoid reaching the wet markets.

The order was made after 100,000 tons of imported galunggong, tulingan, and alumahan were being sold to the wet markets, avoiding value-added tax.

“The problem is that if some “crafty” importers diverted and sold part of their frozen fish inventory to wet markets, where the sale of marine products are exempted from value-added tax,” Tiu Laurel explained. “The problem is diversion. If they [importers] imported mackerel and diverted it to wet markets, they will fall short [of their required supply],” he said

Subsequently, Memo 14 allowed mackerel importation for canning purposes, given that “the volume thereof shall be based on VATable sales of the canned products from the previous year with additional ten percent (10%) of said sales for buffer.”

“Technically, importers should be able to import 10 percent more than what they are using now. So, I don’t see any reason why they fear a possible shortage in the supply of mackerel for canning,” DA chief said.

Despite this, Tiu Laurel explained that there is no need to investigate wet market vendors who sell imported fish, because fish importers are the one carrying the illegal act.

“By going after erring importers, it will protect local fishermen from unfair trade practices that undermine their livelihood as well as help the government collect the right taxes.”

“[Wet market vendors] are not at fault, they’re only doing their job,” he stressed.

— Gabriell Christel Galang