April 13, 2009
Philippine fish prices to stabilise next week
Consumers may have to wait at least one more week before prices of fish stabilise in the Philippines, according to agriculture officials on Monday (Apr 13).
Department of Agriculture (DA) assistant secretary Salvador Salacup said that this is a "seasonal" trend of prices of basic commodities after the Lenten season.
Salacup stressed prices of meat, including pork and chicken, should not go up at this time as producers had committed to make the supply of these commodities stable.
He said reports showed the prices of fish have yet to go down this week as fishermen who left shore last week have yet to return.
He also said that supply levels of fish went down as a result of the instable fish prices.
On the other hand, he said his office will meet with producers and stakeholders once prices fail to go down starting next week.
He said DA Secretary Arthur Yap already instructed him to observe prices of fish, particularly of bangus fish.
He added that he wants to get the explanations of those concerned before taking action against them.
