Solon to DA, DTI: Engage canned fish sector during closed-fishing season

TO enable sardines to reproduce, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte

Salceda on Friday called on the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture to engage the canned fish sector over supply concerns, especially with sardines, during the close of the fishing season in the Zamboanga Peninsula, which happens every year from December 1 to February 28.

Salceda said this will ensure that there is no shortage of canned sardines during the subsequent season. It looks like supply levels remain manageable, as the industry was able to meet the 75,000 metric tons it is required to store during the closed season. But I also expect demand for canned sardines to pick-up this year,” Salceda said.

“And there remain underlying issues, like the Suggested Retail Price being below the cost at which some of the canners produce. With marketing costs, the price is P20, which is above the P18 SRP,” he added.

T he lawmaker said he is asking the DTI and the DA to engage in dialogue with the industry and with small players and stakeholders as soon as possible, so the country can prevent this potential problem from materializing.

“Right now, the most immediate probable result is a lack of supply of some brands in supermarkets, especially as manufacturers try to skip shelf-space fees in supermarkets,” Salceda said. We also need to strengthen collaboration with alternative fish sources, such as Papua New Guinea, which is one of our biggest sources of sardines,” Salceda added.

54 hatcheries

SALCEDA also said the country needs to ramp up the completion of the 54 legislated hatcheries, only 3 of which have been completed.

In the long run, of course, we really need to work on fish supply, because climate issues won’t get easier any time soon," he said.

“I no longer think bashing the BFAR is productive at this point. There is a new leadership, so I want to work with them,” Salceda said.

According to Salceda, the government needs to ramp up aquaculture.

“ We source only 52 percent of our fish supply from aquaculture, and rely on capture for the rest. We can amp that up. I am already working with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources so they can finish up more hatcheries this year,” Salceda added.

That will help us ease pressure on fish consumption in general, but we need to invest in research on sardine culture. It was only in 2018 when the first cultured sardines were successfully raised.”

For sardines, the lawmaker said mariculture is the key.

“Portugal—arguably the country best known for sardines— is already doing it, backed by solid research. So, BFAR needs a very strong research and development component as well,” Salceda added.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

“As part of the government’s digitization efforts, the EO warrants concerned NGA [national government agencies] or LGU [local government units] to enable electronic submission of application for, and issuance of license, clearance, permit, certification, including payments,” DTI said.

D TI said the EO sets a timeline for the processing of documents.

NGAs and LGUs are ordered to act on applications not longer than three working days for simple transactions, seven working days for complex transactions, and 20 working days for highly-technical transactions from the date of the receipt of application.

However, DTI said the prescribed maximum processing period may be extended only once for the same number of days if it is indicated in the Citizen’s Charter.

In case of failure of the NGA or LGU to act, whether to approve or disapprove an application, it shall be deemed to be consistent with Section 10 of Republic Act 9485 or the AntiRed Tape Act of 2007.

Further, DTI-BOI may endorse to the Anti-Red Tape Authority applications for permits and licenses which are not yet resolved after the lapse of the original or extension period.

F or the purpose of efficient monitoring, the EO also mandates concerned NGA, LGU, and/or quasijudicial bodies to submit monthly updates to the DTI-BOI reflecting the status of applications received and acted upon.

L ikewise, a Technical Working Group is created to serve as an oversight body that will ensure the efficient and successful implementation of the EO.

T his initiative requires a wholeof-government collaboration as DTI OSAC-SI, NGAs, LGUs, GOCCs, and other government instrumentalities are ordered to coordinate with one another for assistance and support.