Piñol acts on high fish prices in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol vowed on Tuesday to help bring down the soaring prices of fish in Bohol by increasing the fish supply in local markets.

Boholanos have been reeling from the high prices of fish, a concern that has been taken up by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the past.

Piñol revealed his plans to help bring down the high prices during the opening of the Sandugo Agri-Fair in a local mall in Tagbilaran.

He asked for 30 to 45 days to implement his plan to flood the market with galunggong fish.

Piñol said he cannot understand why fish prices are unusually high in Bohol which is an island. He said he has met with the think tank at the DA to come up with a strategy to bring down fish prices.

The secretary said he is open to the idea of importing fish, especially during the ban of catching fish. But he added that importing fish and flooding the market with supply are temporary measures.

The long-term solution is to encourage Boholanos to go into fish farming to help raise the fish supply in local markets.

While in Bohol, Piñol turned over 55 fiberglass reinforced pumpboats over to fishermen in Loon town. He handed over certificates of ownership to Fermin Cantones, the chair of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management.

The beneficiaries come from the 31 coastal barangays of Loon.

In another development, Piñol was joined by Gov. Edgar Chatto, Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite, DA regional director Salvador Diputado, and Talibon mayor Restituto Auxtero in the 7th National Rice Technology Forum on Wednesday.

The forum highlights different faming technology that allows farmers to increase production without necessarily increasing cost.