CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has expressed alarm on reports that some 2,000 kilograms of formalin-tainted galunggong (round scad) were confiscated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a public market in Navotas last week.
The confiscated galunggong was said to be from China and part of the 17,000 metric tons of imported fish products that was approved by the DA-BFAR last August through the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 195, Pamalakaya noted.
Even before the importation, Pamalakaya had warned of formalin contamination of galunggong coming from China, saying it would be dangerous to the health of Filipino consumers.
The group had opposed the importation plan, noting that this would also “ kill the livelihood and production of local fisherfolk due to competition in the market.”
Pamalakaya asked the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resoures (BFAR) to “immediately explain why the tainted galunggong had entered the wet market, despite being illegal under the FAO 195 itself – which only allowed importation of fishery and other aquatic products only for canning and processing purposes, not for direct market sale.”
“We demand an explanation from BFAR director Eduardo Gongona and Agriculture Sec. Emmanuel Piñol who approved this importation policy. Despite our earlier warnings with scientific backing from experts, how come these imported fish products still landed in our markets?,” the group asked.
Pamalakaya said it “will hold BFAR and DA accountable for whatever happens to Filipinos who might fall sick for consuming tainted galunggong.”
Pamalakaya chairman Fernando Hicap reiterated his call for the boycott of imported galunggong and instead patronize local fish products that are freshly caught by Filipino fishers.
