‘GG’ pricey? Then don’t buy it , says Villar
Sen. Cynthia Villar on Tuesday offered a straightforward solution to the skyrocketing prices of round scad, or “galunggong,” after the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the country might import the “poor man’s fish” to deal with its soaring price: Don’t eat galunggong.
Last week, the DA reported that a kilo of galunggong cost P250 in markets in Metro Manila, a bump of about 50 percent from the previous price of P170.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the sharp price spike might prompt it to import some 45,000 metric tons of round scad
and other small pelagic fish. Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture committee, said the Department of Trade and Industry should be more aggressive in inspecting grocery stores, public markets and other commercial establishments to ensure that these were complying with the government’s suggested retail price.
Seasonal rise in prices
“The demand [for food] is increasing because it’s Christmas season … There’s a tendency for sellers to raise the prices because of the greater demand,” she told reporters.
When asked about the agriculture department’s plan to import round scad, she replied: “If galunggong is becoming too expensive, then they should not
eat galunggong. Isn’t that right?”
“There are other alternative foods that they can eat. Why do they insist on eating galunggong if it’s expensive? That would only encourage price increase,” she said.
“[The galunggong supply] has become controversial. Why are they so agog over galunggong?” she said. “There are other [choices], which are cheaper and available. We have other choices. Why do they insist on [buying] galunggong?”
Villar, the richest senator with a declared net worth of P3.5 billion as of June 2019, had previously drawn the ire of the public for issuing remarks regarded by many as antipoor.
She once raised an objection to restaurants offering unlimited servings of rice to entice customers, saying this would only increase the risk of Filipinos getting diabetes.
Corn research
Netizens also lashed out at the senator after she chided agriculture officials for being “so crazy” about corn research that they allotted P150 million for the endeavor in their proposed budget for next year.
Villar likewise drew brickbats for proposing to “disincentivize” underperforming public schools after the Philippines ranked lowest among 79 countries in reading comprehension and the second worst in science and math in an international assessment study.
According to the senator, she recently turned down a request from a private group for a permit to import galunggong, saying she had never given such favors.
Instead of round scad, Villar said Filipinos should just consume vegetables. “That’s a healthier (option),” she said.
She noted that malnutrition was one of the reasons for the dismal academic performance of young Filipino students.inq