Galunggong or round scad, which used to be the poor man’s fish, is now more expensive than dressed chicken, based on the latest data released by the Department of Agriculture. In a report dated September 13, the DA said the average prevailing price of galunggong in Metro Manila wet markets has reached P220 per kilogram, P60 higher than a kilo of dressed chicken. Round scad retailed at P200 to P230 per kilo in six of the big Metro Manila wet markets surveyed by the DA.
As pork—the favorite protein source of Filipinos—remained expensive due to the onslaught of the African swine fever, consumers have shifted to fish products, such as galunggong and alumahan or Indian mackerel. Pork kasim and liempo retailed at P300 and P340, respectively, according to data from the DA. The arrival of pork imports has yet to make a significant dent in meat prices. Pork was still one of the main drivers of inflation in August, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (See, “Inflation seen to hit growth, poverty goal,” in the BusinessMirror, September 8, 2021).
Fish was also one of the main drivers of inflation in August, but National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said this was mainly due to supply constraints. Despite the affordability of other fish species like bangus (milkfish) and tilapia (St. Peter’s Fish), it appears that Filipinos are partial to galunggong. Data indicated that bangus and tilapia retailed at P160 per kilo and P120 per kilo, respectively, a development that producers attributed to low demand.
The government is banking on the importation program it approved last month to pull down the price of certain fish species, including round scad. Under the small fish pelagic importation scheme, the government will allow traders to bring in 60,000 metric tons of round scad, big-eye scads, mackerels, sardines, round herrings and anchovies ahead of the closed fishing season, which will start in November. The importation program is expected to ease prices as the DA said traders will be required to set a wholesale price of P88 per kilo or lower.
In the short-term, the importation scheme will surely pull down local prices of small fish species and consumers would eventually forget that the poor man’s fish was a major driver of inflation this year. To prevent a repeat of runaway prices for fish products, government should now start looking at measures that would make the favored galunggong and other fish species like alumahan, which retails at P320 per kilo, more affordable. It can start by examining the reasons for the low demand for bangus and tilapia (See, “‘Galunggong’ too pricey? Try cheaper ‘bangus’ or tilapia,” in the BusinessMirror, September 13, 2021).
Groups such as the Philippine Tilapia Stakeholders Association and the Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance Inc. have declared that they can supply the country’s fish requirements even during the closed fishing season. Unfortunately, there’s scant demand for these aquaculture species. Tilapia and bangus are currently more affordable than galunggong and alumahan and consumers probably need just a little nudge from policymakers for them to start buying other fish species again.