MANILA, Philippines — Around 1,000 fish cages in Taal Lake were affected when Tropical Cyclone Jolina battered the country recently.
Mario Balazon, the Director of Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance Incorporated, however, said that this will not result in a decrease in the supply of tilapia as the fish can also be caught in the lake.
“Katulad din ito noong nangyari noong pagputok ng Bulkang Taal, naglubugan ang mga cages. Ang mga isda’y nakawala at hinuli na rin. Siguro pagkatapos ng isa o dalawang buwan ay naibalik na ulit yung dami ng supply ng isda,” Balazon said.
But despite the steady supply of tilapia, the group complains about low demand during the pandemic.
“Because of the pandemic mas maraming nawalan ng trabaho. Ang purchasing power ng tao ay bumaba talaga wala talagang pera at saka yung mobility ng tao medyo kontrolado,” Balazon said.
The group is asking the government and the public to help them recover by buying locally produced fish.
UNTV brought this to the attention of the Department of Agriculture (DA) which promised to support the fishermen in marketing their products.
“We have to make sure na makarating po sa palengke ang mga isdang yan, whether sa ating mga pampublikong palengke or iyong Kadiwa. Iyon ang ating gagawin ngayon,” assured DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista.
Meanwhile, the government is set to import additional 6,000 metric tons of round scad locally known as galunggong to stabilize the price as it increases by P40 per kilogram. -MNP (from the report of Rey Pelayo)
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