Amid declining fish catch, the AGRI Party-list urged the government to implement the National Sardines Management Plan (NSMP).
AGRI issued the call in the wake of Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s request for an additional P12 billion from the agency’s earlier proposed P95-billion budget for 2022 to address challenges on food and agriculture.
The NSMP aims to improve science-based indicators for the sustainability of fish stocks, which includes, among others, the reduction of sardine juveniles in the landed catch by 10% in five years.
The five-year NSMP, which Dar signed in June last year, is a product of multi-sector collaboration and initiatives. It was crafted to address challenges in and develop the local sardine industry.
“Habang tumatagal ay patuloy na pakaunti nang pakaunti ang huli ng ating mga mangingisda samantalang paliit din nang paliit ang mga sardinas na nahuhuli nila,” AGRI Party-list first nominee and former judge Frank Lobrigo said.
“If we don’t do something about this, baka hindi magtagal tuluyan nang mag-collapse ang industriya ng sardinas dito sa bansa. At dahil malaking industriya ang sardinas, magiging malaking kawalan ito hindi lamang sa ating mga mangingisda ngunit maging sa ating ekonomiya,” he added.
Sardines are a staple source of protein for a majority of Filipinos and one the most commercially important fish species in the Philippines. According to official figures from the government, sardines accounted for 15% of marine fishery over the last 15 years, with an average yearly production of 333,743 metric tons.
Lobrigo said aside from decreasing catch rates and increasing juvenile catch, decreasing productivity, post-harvest losses, illegal fishing, and poverty among sardine fisherfolk are also some of the challenges plaguing the industry.
“Karamihan sa ating mga mangingisda ay kabilang sa poorest of the poor at kapag hindi natin sila tinulungan na dumami muli ang huli, lalo silang malulugmok sa kahirapan. The NSMP is already there, we just need to implement it fully,” he stressed.
Sardines are a staple source of protein for a majority of Filipinos and one the most commercially important fish species in the Philippines.
The NSMP aims to improve science-based indicators for the sustainability of fish stocks, which includes, among others, the reduction of sardine juveniles in the landed catch by 10% in five years.
The Department of Agriculture initially proposed a total of P231.7 billion to support the implementation of its programs, however, only P91 billion or 39.27% of the proposed amount was approved by the Department of Budget and Management.
Dar wrote Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to request the budget increase, saying the country is in need of a “lifeline” to sustain its productivity and meet its food security needs.
