THE Department of Agriculture said that they are expecting the price of galunggong and other pelagic fish to slide down by as much as 30% since the open fishing season in Palawan starts anew.

According to the DA, based on the retail prices of local galunggong in Metro Manila, it carries a price range of somewhere between P200 to P330 per kilogram on February 2, up from P200 to P280 per kilogram on Oct. 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, the price of imported galunggong is from P180 to P260 per kilogram.

“Dahil nagsisimula na muli ‘yung ating open season ngayong February, March, inaasahan natin na malaki ‘yung ibababa, siguro hanggang 30% na presyo ng galunggong at iba pang pelagic fish,” DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa.

It will be recalled that the three month closed fishing season was imposed in Palawan on November 1, 2023 and lasted until Jan. 31, 2024. 

This meant that the fishing of sardines, herring, and mackerel was also prohibited in the Visayan sea from Nov. 15, and would last until February 15.

De Mesa explained that the government continued to provide assistance to farmers amid the ongoing El Niño, with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. allocating P1.8 billion and the DA earmarking P500 million for assistance.

“‘Yung report ng PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), magpi-peak ito ng February hanggang March at pagdating ng April nga ay unti-unti nang bababa ‘yung epekto,” he said.