MANILA: The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on Wednesday assured the public that the retail prices of bangus (milk fish) and tilapia (cichlid fish) remain stable in the National Capital Region (NCR). Its latest price monitoring report showed that medium-sized bangus sourced from Bulacan and Pangasinan are priced at PHP180 per kilo, while medium-sized tilapia sourced from Batangas and Pampanga costs PHP120 per kilo. The report covers 10 major retail markets in the region. "Two to three pieces of medium-sized bangus usually weigh one kilogram, and the same goes for tilapia," the DA-BFAR said in a news release. It said no fluctuations in the prevailing retail prices of bangus and tilapia were observed. "The prices of these fisheries commodities have remained stable since the previous weeks due to sufficient supply from farms. The farmgate prices of tilapia have decreased from PHP90 to PHP93 last week to PHP85 to PHP88 this week, while bangus farmgate prices were at PHP130 to PHP140 only this week," it added. However, minor price differences may be due to several factors, including varying sizes of unloaded supplies in wet markets. "Large-sized bangus, for example, commands a higher price of PHP200 to PHP240 per kilo. In addition, secondary markets - which source their supply from primary markets - may sell fisheries products at marked-up prices," it said. Meanwhile, an increase in the supply of local-fresh galunggong (mackerel scad) is anticipated in the markets as Palawan, a major source of galunggong in Luzon, ended its closed fishing season on Wednesday. The ban started on Nov. 1, 2023. Source: Philippines News Agency
