VETERAN Provincial Board Member Atty. Tomas D. Abapo, Jr. of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol has initiated the crafting of a legislative measure aimed at regulating prices of fish and other aquatic resources.
He proposed an Ordinance ‘prescribing the classification of fish and other aquatic products and fixing the ceiling prices determined by kilograms and imposing penalties and thereon and for other related purposes,’ for first reading, Abapo told media interview last week.
Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor A. Balite, who chairs the agriculture committee, lauded Abapo’s initiative. “The move of BM Abapo is a noble action for a proposed ordinance.”
This came after Gov. Aris Aumentado issued an executive order creating the Task Force Isda to help monitor and check the fish prices in the markets around the province.
This is aside from the initiative of the province in reactivating the Provincial Price Monitoring Council, who met last week. Details of the discussion was not immediately available, however.
The move of proposing a legislative act was prompted as the consumers have been peeved of the what seemed to be a never-ending hike of fish prices. The sky-rocketing of fish prices and other basic commodities has impacted the consumers since the pre-pandemic days.
A resident, who did not give his name, said that fish prices contributed to Bohol’s moniker as “most expensive province.”
FACTORS OF INCREASE
Abapo recognized some important factors that cause the increase of fish prices sold in mostly public market.
One is the much reported “cartel.” He said in vernacular, “Mas maayo bungkagon ning cartel kay mao ni nakamahal sa presyo.” (It will be better to get rid of this cartel).
It was learned that former assistant to Agriculture Secretary Alcala, Benjie Oliva who said that fish cartel exists in Bohol fish industry based on the department’s study.
Another is the numerous layer of middlemen. Abapo said that even before the fish catch reached the shoreline, it is already sold out in the middle of the sea.
It appeared that fishers owed the middlemen the catch as the latter provided money for the former’s fishing operations, like fuel, he said. And the fisher cannot anymore sell their catch to other prospective buyers.
What made it ironic is that some buyers bring the catch to Cebu and some middlemen bring the same catch back here.
BASIS
Abapo said that the legal basis of the proposed fish Ordinance is the “general welfare clause” provided under Article II of the Constitution.
Another is the Local government Code of 1991 that gives power to the local government unit to regulate for the benefit of the majority of the people.
He said that with the proposed Ordinance, the profits derived from the fish would hopefully be reduced but still the seller gains.
CLASSIFICATION
Abapo said that the measure primarily aimed at classifying fish catch sold such as ‘high class,” second, third or fourth class.
But he said he’s no exert on the matter. Hence, he needs the help of others who are expert on classifying fish and other aquatic products.
Abapo explained that the task of crafting the Ordinance is no easy one since it largely depends on the recommendation of the TF Isda and inputs from stakeholders —- fishers, buyers, including other committees such as trade and industry.
This is likely to be tackled during the public hearing to be called by the committee as matter of policy and procedure in legislation, Abapo said.
he enacting of an Ordinance is a permanent one rather other measures that may be a “band-aid” solution to the perennial problem of high fish prices.
OTHER MEASURES
Bohol Fishery Officer and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bohol Officer in Charge Candido Samijon said apart from the deep sea fish corrals or commonly called lambaklads that are funded by the local government units of Guindulman and Jagna and the not yet operationalized fish corral in Candijay, and the new lambaklad in Garcia Hernandez, BFAR Bohol is working on the realization of the requests for additional deep-sea corrals for LGU Valencia and LGU Duero, Philippine Information said.
Lambaklad, or a deep sea set net, is an eco-friendly passive fishing gear that uses nets and big, is some kind of an understatement.
A standard lambaklad is a fish corral but instead of bamboo pole stakes that keep it grounded, ropes fasten it to buoys and weights submerged deep down in 40-60 meters of seas to keep the nets upright and taut.
The office of the governor thru the office of the provincial agriculturist is contemplating to adopt a buy-back scheme, which enable the provincial government to buy fish catch direct from the fishers in fair price and sold them to affordable price. (rvo)
